Director of rugby John Dobson was delighted with how the Stormers stuck to the plan and overcame adversity in Friday night’s URC season opener in Galway.
Dobson’s men overturned a 12-10 half-time deficit and scored three tries after the interval to kick off their campaign with a 29-15 win against Connacht at The Sportsground.
Fullback Warrick Gelant touched down inside the opening 40 minutes and flyhalf Jurie Matthee kicked five points, before the hosts hit twice via Mack Hansen and Josh Ioane– and the boot of Sam Gilbert – to edge in front.
But scores from replacements Sazi Sandi, Vernon Paulo and Ezekiel Ngobeni powered the visitors to a big win in Leolin Zas’ 100th club appearance, and a massive confidence boost heading to Edinburgh next Friday.
RECAP: Stormers make winning start in Galway
“It’s going to sound arrogant but I thought we deserved to win,” Dobson said pitchside with Premier Sports post-match. “Credit to Connacht for those two tries before half-time.”
Dobson made several enforced personnel changes before kick-off, with loose forwards Evan Roos (hamstring) and Marcel Theunissen (calf) ruled out.
“Territorially we were spot on this evening, and given the disruptions – we ended up with a hooker on the flank, we got 10 loose forwards out – to come to a place like this without our internationals …
“To win in a place like this is very special for us. We’ve got a lot of respect for this club and this venue is a tough place to win, so I’m very happy.”
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On what he said at half-time, having led 10-0 after 37 minutes, the coach added: “I thought this was magic, and we were about to score to go 15-0.
“Connacht, I didn’t expect them to be that sort of dangerous, the way they capitalised on our mistakes like that.
“But at half-time, I had to say, ‘Listen chaps, we’re perfect, we’re at the races … even though we’re down.’ To use a horrible cliché, trust the process.
“We got held up just after half-time but our plan of the forwards and trying to take their legs and the maul and the scrum, it paid off in the end because we dominated towards the back end there.”
Photo: @THESTORMERS/X
The post Dobbo: We deserved to win appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Director of rugby John Dobson was delighted with how the Stormers stuck to the plan and overcame adversity in Friday night’s URC season opener in Galway.
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