“I Don’t Have To Squeeze Them” — Dobson
John Dobson believes the Stormers are better equipped to handle the physical challenge posed by the Sharks when the two South African rivals meet in their URC clash at DHL Stadium on Saturday, with the fixture carrying added significance after last season’s disappointing derby defeats.
The Stormers suffered back-to-back losses to the Sharks last season, with Dobson describing those results as the low point of their campaign. The Cape side will therefore field their strongest available team for Saturday’s encounter, with Cheslin Kolbe the notable absentee through injury.
The Stormers’ lineout will be under particular scrutiny after they lost six against the Sharks at DHL Stadium in January, before suffering similar struggles in last weekend’s defeat by Edinburgh.
Dobson acknowledged that another poor showing in that area could prove costly against a determined Sharks side.
“With the level of disappointment, frustration, reaction and desperation, the lineout will be better,” Dobson said.
“We said to the team after the defeat against Edinburgh that we will lose against the Sharks if we lose six lineouts.
“The Sharks also mauled better against us than Edinburgh did to us last week.”
Despite the disappointing result against Edinburgh, Dobson believes there is a different mentality within his squad heading into the derby, insisting he does not need to manufacture motivation ahead of what is expected to be an intense physical battle.
“There is a different feeling in this team, which was part of the frustration against Edinburgh,” he said.
“All the key stats were better. We played better against Edinburgh than we did against Connacht; just one aspect went wrong.
“This team is dialled in, and I don’t feel I have to squeeze the team to raise them.”
The Stormers director of rugby expects Saturday’s contest to bear similarities to their previous battles with the Bulls, particularly given the confidence currently coursing through the Sharks camp and the number of Springboks on both sides.
“I do feel this will feel a bit like a Bulls game,” Dobson said. “It’s a confident Sharks team. It’s Bok v Bok.
“Last year we saw the Bulls as the big game, and we were perhaps a bit soft on the Sharks, who were not flying at the time.”
Dobson believes that mindset has changed, however, with the Stormers having identified the Sharks clash as a significant fixture from the outset of pre-season.
“Since pre-season this has felt like a highly motivated, well-led group,” he said.
The scrum is another area expected to provide a major battleground, with Dobson relishing the prospect of seeing his forwards go head-to-head with a powerful Sharks pack.
“If you’re a rugby purist, you know how this is going to go,” he said.
The Stormers boss highlighted the importance of the Sharks’ scrum in their recent victory, pointing to Thomas du Toit’s dominance at loosehead against Leinster as an indication of the threat his side will face.
“Thomas du Toit did a job on Thomas Clarkson last week at loosehead, and the scrum turned the game for them.”
The Stormers will also have impact available from their replacements, with Neethling Fouche among those Dobson believes can make a difference when introduced.
“Our scrum culture is important to us,” he said.
“We have guys coming off the bench like Neethling, who has done very well when he has scrummed against Ox in the past.”
Dobson also backed Vernon Matongo, who has been compared to Springbok legend Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira because of his loosehead position and background.
“They tease Vernon Matongo about being the next Beast just because of his background and him being a loosehead,” Dobson said. “We feel he is one of the best.”
With both teams boasting formidable packs and a host of Springboks, Dobson expects the battle up front to play a decisive role.
“The scrum battle will be massive and will be a flashpoint,” he said.
