John Dobson was happy for the DHL Stormers to take two points from a hard-fought draw with Leinster in Dublin, but was also left frustrated with his side’s second half performance as they let a 17-point lead slip on Friday. DYLAN JACK reports.
A late try from Clayton Blommetjies secured a 22-22 draw for the Stormers after a resurgent Leinster looked to set to extend their 15-game winning run with a magnificent second-half effort.
REPORT: Gutsy Stormers snatch Dublin draw
However, there were still mixed feelings for the defending champions, who had a 17-point lead in the first half and couple of good opportunities to seal a rare win in Dublin in the second half.
At the same time, the Stormers ticked the boxes they had set before the match by coming away with what could be two valuable log points as they look to secure second place on the log.
“At 22-17 down, with 14 players, we were looking at possibly getting nothing out of the game. The way we fought back, we are the only team Leinster haven’t beaten since they lost to the Bulls around this time last year,” coach Dobson said after the match.
“I was very, very disappointed with our start to the second half. We had a plan at half-time. The conditions were really tough. It was Galway-like, in the wind and rain. We were very poor at kicking contestables into the wind. We kicked the first three, two ended up in tries against us and one in a 22-entry. So I was disappointed with how we tactically played in the second half.
“It was a game of real intensity. Two quality teams going at each other. In the end there, we probably forced an offload where we should have kept it in hand and we might have got a penalty. We were under the pump for large parts of that second half.
“A draw is a reasonably fair result,” Dobson added. “With Ulster chasing us and points difference, those two points are extremely useful. Leinster still had twice the number of URC caps in this team than we had. For us to come here and do that was a great experience in preparation for next week. That was the first objective for this game. Even if Ulster beat the Bulls, it still gives us some breathing space in terms of hanging onto second place.
“For our morale and getting used to the conditions, tonight was really important. It’s a reasonably happy changing room, even though we feel we could have done more.”
The Stormers next face English Premiership side Harlequins in the Champions Cup last-16 in Cape Town. Dobson was thankful to report no major injury concerns for that match, aside from veteran tighthead Frans Malherbe, who had taken a ‘stinger’ to his shoulder.
Photo: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile/Gallo Images