DHL Stormers XXIII head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb expressed immense relief and excitement after his side secured a thrilling 36-28 bonus-point victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at DHL Stadium.
The Round 3 Carling Currie Cup clash served as a vital response just seven days after a stinging 41-03 defeat to the Boland Cavaliers.
Dawson-Squibb praised his squad’s intent, demanding a "proper, purposeful performance" after a tough week in the media spotlight.
“I said, not to the players but to myself, ‘if we lose, we lose’, but there must be an energy in our performance. I felt it was a proper, purposeful performance,” Dawson-Squibb said post-match.
“You only have to read Facebook to see how bad we were last week. I was upset last week because of that very thing. It’s one of those wins where you’re so happy with the result and with the effort.”
Dawson-Squibb highly credited captain Stefan Ungerer for rallying the troops and handling the immense pressure.
“Stef comes, and he rallies the troops. For me, that’s exceptional.”
The match also showcased the next generation of Western Province talent. Nineteen-year-old Junior Springbok Markus Muller scored a try on his Currie Cup debut, earning high praise alongside flyhalf Kyle Smith, who marshalled the game cleanly and kicked 11 points.
“Markus Muller played in last year’s interschools, and that’s happening today! You’ve got young guys willing to put their body on the line, and that’s massive,” the coach added.
Despite the victory, Ungerer noted that there is still room for improvement as the tournament progresses.
Looking ahead to the United Rugby Championship (URC) crossover, Dawson-Squibb noted that senior Stormers coach John Dobson might call up a few standout performers to face New Zealand opposition in Cape Town. However, he expects a maximum of two or three players to be pulled from his current ranks to preserve domestic squad chemistry.
With two wins from three games, the Stormers XXIII now shift their focus to hosting the Toyota Cheetahs at Athlone Stadium.
“We know the Cheetahs are good. They’re cohesive, well-coached and I can’t wait for Sunday afternoon in Athlone,” he said.