The DHL Stormers squad have reaped the rewards this season of the consistent injection of the franchise’s talented up-and-coming players, according to MARK KEOHANE.
Defending champions, the Capetonians finished the Vodacom United Rugby Championship regular season in third place after a bonus-point victory against Benetton in Stellenbosch on Friday.
The win consolidated the Stormers’ spot in the top four on the URC log and completed a remarkable double in winning back-to-back South African Shields and did enough to host a home quarter-final.
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In his Keo.co.za blog, Keohane hailed the SA team and head coach John Dobson, who used more than 55 players to balance the requirements of playing in two European competitions after a Champions Cup last-eight exit on debut.
“The Stormers, champions of the inaugural URC when they beat the Vodacom Bulls in last season’s final, backed up their first international title in the franchise’s history with a league campaign that screamed consistency and growth,” he writes.
“The numbers are staggeringly similar. Last season, the Stormers won 12, drew two and lost four of their 18 league matches. They finished with 61 points, which included nine bonus points. They then won all three home play-off matches.
“This season they won 12, drew two and lost four of their 18 league matches and finished with 68 points, which included 16 bonus points.
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“The squad is one that represents the people of Western Province and is insistent they play for the people of Western Province. Dobson, captain Steven Kitshoff and all squad members always talk of the importance of their support base and also of their desire to play a style of rugby that speaks to the cross-cultural DNA that defines rugby in Western Province.
“The biggest victory for Dobson and his coaches was that only one player from last season’s title-winning starting XV, started this season opener against Connacht.
“Squad depth was fast-tracked through giving young players opportunities and there was no hesitation to look beyond the core current Springboks.”
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