URC – “If We Lost Tonight, We Would’ve Been On The Dust Road” – John Dobson

 

Director of Rugby John Dobson was thrilled with what was a crucial win for the DHL Stormers against Munster at DHL Stadium, ahead of a key clash against the Vodacom United Rugby Championship title-holders in Stellenbosch next week.

The DHL Stormers scored four tries and Damian Willemse kicked 14 points in a 34-19 bonus-point victory on Saturday, in their first home game of the Vodacom URC season after a three-week European tour.

This victory marked the DHL Stormers’ first triumph over the Irish club in five encounters in the Vodacom URC, and they will next face the Glasgow Warriors at Danie Craven Stadium in Round Six of the competition.

“The feeling is pure relief. This was a really tough week. For me, the record against Munster wasn’t a massive thing. If we had another loss, it could’ve done more damage. Last year, we felt that pressure after the 0-4 tour. There was a knife to our throat for the whole season. If we had lost tonight, we really would’ve been on the dust road. We have another one to do next week, then I think we will be in a really good spot.”

Dobson said the key takeaway from the result was the defence of the Stormers."

"Where I think we were absolutely magnificent was defensively. Munster are a really good attacking team, but they needed us to give away penalties to get any entries."

"So I thought this was a very good defensive effort. We were a team fighting for a win. We started the second half with a lot of intensity. The way we finished was good as well."

Speaking on next weekend's match against the Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch Dobson said: "There is so much desperation from within this team to do well. We don’t have a good record against Glasgow, but all three of the last games have been at Scotstoun Stadium."

"They are the defending Vodacom URC champions and it’s our last home game before the break. It’s a big one for us. If we get it right, it means we have won three out of five, having already toured, so we will be hard in the mix. It’s going to be a vibe in Stellenbosch.”