John Dobson has vowed the DHL Stormers will battle with everything they have against a powered-up Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup match on Sunday. DYLAN JACK reports.
Veteran prop Brok Harris will captain a relatively inexperienced Stormers team in the opening-round match at Welford Road, with a host of star names staying in Cape Town to prepare for next round’s home clash with La Rochelle.
Speaking ahead of the clash on Friday afternoon, Dobson was remorseful about not being able to name a Springbok-powered lineup, but admitted his hand was forced by the six-day turnaround between the cross-hemisphere fixtures.
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Having taken the lessons from their Champions Cup debut last season, the Stormers know that even a single bonus point will be as good as gold when it comes to securing a vital home passage through the playoffs.
“My feeling around our chances of winning this game would be exactly the same if we had brought a couple of those big-names,” Dobson explained. “It’s a really tough fixture.
“I don’t think this team or the other team would have made any difference to our chances, which are probably slim to tell you the truth. What we did learn from last season is that if we picked up a point in our opener away against Clermont, we would have had a home quarter-final.
“In both the Champions and Challenge Cup, of the last 16 games, 15 were won by the home team. So if we pick up a point on the road, that would be a big win for us.
“Look, we would love to win it. We will do everything, they will fight, of that I have no doubt. If we get a point, it will be a job very well done. Of course, we are trying to win it. We are certainly not here just to tick off the fixture.”
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By way of contrast to the Stormers, the home side has named a strongest possible lineup, consisting of two Springboks in Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese, and five England internationals.
“We are clearly, and probably rightly, not given a chance,” Dobson said, around the Stormers’ motivation. “So there’s that. There’s an element of them playing against the best and to prove people wrong.
“I think what is important for us is that we are going to play three really big games after this as well: La Rochelle, Bulls and Sharks. I don’t think there is one name in this squad, who is not playing with some sort of desire to be part of those games.
“There is also a big piece of pride. This is one of the toughest places to go and play rugby. These guys want to show that they are tough. We have gone quite hard on that. This is regarded as one of the toughest teams in the world in Leicester. Lets see how tough we are. That’s the South African pride thing.”
With many of the Stormers youngsters getting their first taste of Champions Cup rugby, Dobson said they will be embracing the occasion.
“There is no doubt in my mind, playing against a team with the tradition, culture, power of Leicester, that guys like Connor Evans, Keke Morabe, Nama Xaba, Hendre Stassen, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, JJ Kotze, are going to have the rugby experience of their lives.
“They will also be much, much better for it, regardless of the outcome. Under Brok, it’s a reasonably young, unconfirmed team, with Jurie [Matthee] at 10. It’s just going to be a fantastic experience.
“I promise one thing, they are really amped for this. It is a massive opportunity for them. For their own pride, and their reputations, they are up for this. We are certainly going to turn up.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
