VIDEO: Stormers boss - 'Odds are still in our favour'
The Stormers head coach John Dobson was very pleased with the five log points following his team’s 31-24 Champions Cup win over Sale Sharks on Saturday.
However, Dobson was less impressed with his team’s lack of killer instinct, which saw Sale Sharks secure a crucial losing bonus point during the niggly contest.
The Stormers’ win keeps their hopes alive of reaching the round of 16, but Sale’s losing bonus point also helps the Premiership team stay in the hunt for a spot in the ‘Pool of Death’.
Stormers – with nine log points – will now have to beat Stade Francais in Paris to secure a place in the last 16.
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Speaking to reporters after the match Stormers head coach John Dobson said he will take a full-strength squad to Paris next week, as they seek to cement a place in the play-offs.
“Our goal was to try and get five-zero [in terms of log points] today. That’s probably why the mood is a little bit irritable.” Dobson said in Cape Town.
“I think if we got five-zero we probably would have been through.
“I still think the odds are definitely in our favour, so getting five points was important.
Dobson added: “In the end, it’s five-one so we have to go do a good job in Paris.
“If we get out of this group of death, it will be a great achievement by the Stormers.”
The Killer instinct
The Stormers outscored their opponents four tries to three in the match. However, there could’ve been a lot more for the hosts.
Wing Leolin Zas scored a brace, and Suleiman Hartzenberg and Man of the Match Hacjivah Dayimani grabbed a five-pointer each.
Dobson said he was delighted with the team’s attacking flair that saw his side enjoy a 31-17 lead in the 60th minute.
“What delighted me the most was that we started to see the Stormers of the last two years, in terms of how we played and looked for space with the ball in hand,” the mentor said.
“It reminded me of the glory days. We have missed a little bit of that this season.
“But it is very tricky, against a team that slows you down like that. I admire [Sale’s] fight, they didn’t want this game to open up, we did the same at Welford Road [against Leicester Tigers] so this is not judgemental. Credit to them.
“Every kick was contestable, so it was a difficult game for us to open up. So for us to still see good signs, it’s important.”
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The coach admitted his team’s failure to put games to bed is becoming a concern.
“What does worry me – we also saw it in the Sharks and Bulls games – we had opportunities to go two-plus scores ahead, to finish the game. It was certainly the case [on Saturday], on three or four occasions. But that didn’t happen.
“Sitting in the coaches box, you think this game could have been over and we wouldn’t have to go through the agony.
“But then, when the game gets to 73 or 74 minutes, the lead starts to look quite imperious. The way we closed out these games, in the last three or four minutes, was very good.
“The fact that we aren’t burying teams when we have them on the ropes is a bit frustrating.”
The Stormers travel to Paris to take on Stade Francais on January 20 in the final pool match of the Champions Cup.
