Stormers coach opens up about 'media inaccuracies'
INTERVIEW: Stormers coach John Dobson was in an incredulous mood on Monday as he fronted up to the media in a video-conference call.
An agitated Dobson had reason to be edgy, as his team had been linked to a number of inaccurate media reports of high-profile player movements.
Dobson started the media session by setting the record straight and while he claimed it was not an ‘attack’ on the media, his opening remarks clearly touched a few nerves – as at least one journalist felt the need to take the unusual step of justifying his reporting.
Dobson said the Stormers and Western Province have done well to retain most of their World Cup-winning Springboks – especially coming through the controversial 21-day clause relatively unscathed.
He said it is important that high-profile players – like the World Cup-winning Boks – are retained for local franchises and he suggested the Stormers deserve more credit for their efforts to retain such high-quality players, given incredibly difficult circumstances.
He said the inaccurate media reports were “disruptive” to members of the squad.
He used, as an example, the reports that Pieter-Steph du Toit was going to Montpellier for €1-million – a report that has subsequently been debunked as a complete fabrication.
Du Toit has subsequently resigned with the Stormers and as this website reported, never intended to leave Cape Town.
“I was intricately involved in the negotiations and can categorically state that [Montpellier] offer never existed,” told the media briefing.
“Similarly, we never made an offer for Sintu Manjezi,” he said of reports linking the Stormers to the Cheetahs utility forward – another falsehood – with the player’s agent Dane Galley confirming to @rugby365com that Dobson’s version is 100 percent accurate.
“We will always respect transfer windows when contracts come up for renewal,” the Stormers coach said, adding that these are stressful and disorientate times.
He also revealed that World Cup-winning hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi is not leaving the Stormers and certainly doesn’t have an exit clause in his contract.
“I can once again state, categorically, that he has no ‘get out’ clause after Super Rugby in 2020 as reported,” Dobson said.
“He is contracted until 31 October 2021, but he could activate an escape clause after Super Rugby or the British & Irish Lions tour next year [2021].
“I think it’s best I quote the player himself, and this is what he said today [Monday]: ‘Just to set the record straight, I am committed to the Stormers until late 2021. The Bulls have made contact via my agent, but no decisions have been made’.”
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