Dobson's coaching strategy for URC and Currie Cup
NEWS: Stormers coach John Dobson has shed light on how he will navigate his current responsibility and his additional role as Currie Cup coach of the Western Province this season.
The United Rugby Championship-winning coach Dobson will take charge of the WP team for their first provincial fixture against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Dobson explained that there are only two Currie Cup games that will clash with the URC, like the one against Leinster on March 24.
“That game is on Friday and the Currie Cup match is only on Sunday. So we will use one of the coaches that aren’t travelling to Leinster with us to work with the team during the week but we will still be able to attend the game.
“What we promised the team is that sense of belonging and I don’t think it is right to outsource them to other coaches. There are some great coaches in the system but we really want to get to know the players better and give them the exact same service levels as the URC team,” Dobson said.
He added that WP has not been in the Currie Cup’s sharp end in recent years so they want to make people proud.
“The Currie Cup is still important to the Cape.”
#ICYMI: Why the clean sweep is important to
@THESTORMERS head coach John Dobson. #rugby #news #Sports @URCOfficial https://t.co/vp2KglcvJK— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) March 6, 2023
‘A reverse sweep’
Stormers captain Deon Fourie said while the Stormers are still basking in their SA Shield acquisition, they didn’t want to be the flash in the pan, only being the top team for one season.
“The sweep of the local teams was always the goal this season and taking the SA Shield again was definitely part of our plan. We just didn’t want to be that team that only did it for one season,” Fourie said.
The coach added that it will be good for his side to face teams that are loaded with URC players.
“With what we are trying to do, if we do face a URC-based Lions team, it’s actually brilliant because some of these guys, almost all of them, have played URC for us. We want to give them more high-level rugby and at Ellis Park, it will be a great experience.
“We are genuinely excited about this campaign. That’s how we give these guys more opportunity and create the depth that we have here at Western Province,” Dobson explained.
And while the Stormers had a clean sweep against the local teams, it might not be the case come the Currie Cup, as all three WP games are away against the bigger teams.
“Our away start is probably revenge for the SA Shield because it’s Lions, Bulls and Sharks away. It could be a reverse sweep in three weeks’ time, but we will give it a go.”
