Director of Rugby John Dobson is confident of a massive response from the DHL Stormers when they return to action in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in four weeks’ time.
The DHL Stormers fought hard but went down against defending Vodacom URC champions Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch on Saturday, in their final game before the international break.
The Scottish team scored two late tries to seal victory in Stellenbosch, and the DHL Stormers will now rest up before a trip to Durban to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on 30 November.
DHL Stormers head coach said: “Glasgow were good. We knew it would be a shootout like it was. Their quick kick-off after we went 17-14 ahead caught us. Even at 21-17, I thought the game was opening up, which is what we wanted."
"Unfortunately we kicked poorly and they kicked a 50:22. We were playing against a team with 17 internationals. We were trying to open it up and it’s who we are, but sometimes it’s going to hang us. As a result, we were a bit loose and we lost a couple of key kicking-duels. We could’ve been a bit tighter.”
John Dobson said the loss of Damian Willemsew was a big blow. Willemse left the field with a groin injury shortly after scoring the Stormers’ only try in the first half.
“We can look at ourselves individually around how well we played within that. Losing Damian Willemse was a big blow to our plans around this game. It was a massive blow. The lesson for me as a coach is that we tried to get some energy on the field, because we wanted to blow it open, but in the end, we had nothing left."
"We were trying to chase it with 14 men, which was tough. I don’t feel the structure was the problem, how we individually operated within it was more my concern. As a team, we could’ve worked harder. That’s not who we are.”
All United Rugby Championship teams will enjoy a four-week international break. The DHL Stormers return to action against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on 30 November.
“We pushed during this opening spell. We really wanted this result. It meant a lot to us. We have to have a circuit break. Some of the guys will get a couple of weeks rest. The Carling Currie Cup guys will get their three-week break."
"The Hollywoodbets Sharks will be a massive game for us. We are up against it now. We know we aren’t the biggest chequebook team in the league, but we pride ourselves on exceeding the sum of our parts.”
