VIDEO: The 'shackles are off' for the Stormers
The Stormers may be rooted at the bottom of the Champions Cup’s Pool Four, without a point, but Director of Rugby John Dobson has not given up on getting into the play-offs of Europe’s premier competition.
Back-to-back South African derby wins – 29-10 over the Lions and 24-20 over the Sharks – have put the Cape Town franchise back in the United Rugby Championship races.
The Champions Cup is a little more tricky.
Heavy losses to Toulon (14-24) and Harlequins (16-53) have left them with a mountain to climb just to reach the Round of 16.
They host Sale Sharks in Cape Town next Saturday and then have a challenging trip to Paris where they will face Racing 92 at the La Defense Arena on January 18.
Then the Stormers face runaway leaders Leinster in Dublin in the URC, before returning to Cape Town to host the Bulls in a rescheduled Round One encounter.
(Continue below …)
However, Dobson said a good (read bonus-point) win against Sale will give them a sniff at a play-off spot in Europe.
It is easier said than done, given that the Sharks are loaded with Springboks and other South Africans they can selected from – Nick Schonert, Hyron Andrews, Alex Groves, Le Roux Roets, Ernst van Rhyn, as well as the Du Preez brothers Dan, Jean-Luc and Robert.
“We will give it a spin against Sale Sharks,” Dobson said about next week’s home game.
“The shackles will be off and we will give it a full crack. We have nothing to lose.
“If we get it [the win] then we go.
“If we lose at home to Sale, the Racing game will be academic.”
Another loss will leave them with a consolation prize of hoping to qualify for the Challenge Cup last 16.
He said the Leinster game, on January 25, coming a week before the start of the Six Nations, will give them a chance of knocking over the Irish giants on their home turf.
“We will definitely have a go at Leinster – even if they are at full strength.
“It is where we want to be.”
(WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson reveals his plans for the remainder of their Europe and URC campaigns….)
Dobson admitted their season was on the line before the two December derbies against the Lions and Sharks.
The 10 points certainly put them back in the races.
He described the Lions as a ‘good team’ and the Sharks as a side that ‘fought’ through some tough injury challenges.
“The days of the derbies being a given are over. They are so competitive now.
“We are properly in the mix now for the season.
“If you look at our fixtures – it is tough against Leinster and Ulster.
“But the teams that are coming here are beatable.
“This was a defining match,” he said of the past weekend’s win over the Sharks.
“If we didn’t win this one, it would have been tough.”
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