AUDIO: Why Stormers are hoping to avoid Dublin trip

The Lions, while fighting for their survival, also hold the key to who the Stormers face in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal.

The Stormers and Lions face off in a URC Round 18 encounter in Cape Town.

Guaranteed a top-eight finish, the Stormers must travel to face defending champions Munster, the Bulls, Leinster or Glasgow Warriors.

Part of that equation is still in their hands.

Beat the Lions and they finish fifth.

However, they have no control over what happens in the top four.

Stormers coach John Dobson is certain that they want to avoid a trip to Dublin, where a very ‘angry’ Leinster will await them – determined to make amends for choking in a European Final for the third successive year.

This season’s quarterfinal will be the first play-off match the Stormers played outside Cape Town.

“Every one of our play-off matches has been at the Cape Town Stadium,” Dobson said, adding that hitting the road for the first time might be good for their growth.

“I have no doubt it would be.

“That’s not a justification for us not qualifying for a home playoff, of course, we wanted to do that.

“But I think it will be good for us to do it. “

(LISTEN as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson explains just how important his team’s URC face-off with the Lions is….)

He said as the inaugural URC champions and runners-up last year, reaching the semifinals is important for the Caper Town-based franchise.

“Our goal was that we at least wanted to get to the semifinals.

“We have to win that quarterfinal, no matter where we go.

“All of them are tough – whether it’s in Glasgow, Loftus Versfeld, Dublin or Limerick.

“But this will be good for us.

“We need to go through this experience.”

The Lions’ impressive wins over Connacht and Glasgow Warriors – while down to 14 men for more than half the game – ensured the Stormers would be on full alert.

“They are a dangerous and a team,” Dobson said, adding: “It is not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

“We will go full metal jacket’ for our last home game of the season.

“The higher we are on the standings, the easier the quarterfinal will be.”

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