John Dobson: 'I am feeling a little bit frustrated'
REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson said he was frustrated that his team couldn’t close out their United Rugby Championship Round Three match against Edinburgh with a win.
The Stormers overcame the shock of conceding 14 points in the first five minutes to claim a highly creditable 20-20 (half-time 20-20) draw with Edinburgh, ending their opening run of two defeats in the URC.
The match scoring ended at the 39th minute when Stormers flyhalf Tim Swiel levelled the scores for the second time.
The second half was in sharp contrast – neither side came close to scoring a try – and both flyhalves missed a single penalty chance.
“I am proud of them,” Dobson told reporters after the match.
“I am feeling a little bit frustrated as one does after draws because in that last 20 minutes we had a few chances to win it.
“With losing Adre [Smith to suspension] and our frontline No.9 [Stefan Ungerer] and No.10 [Manie Libbok] in the week, we actually did ok.
“It is a tough place to play. Edinburgh aren’t a bad team, so I am pretty proud, but I would have liked to have won.”
Round 3 is done ✅
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— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 10, 2021
Dobson said his team struggled in difficult conditions in the second half.
“There was quite a strong wind in the first half, but then it started to rain [in the second half] and it was our first time on a 4G [pitch],” the Stormers coach added.
“It [surface] was very slippery when it’s wet. It got trickier and trickier and your saw the teams go into more contestables, a battle which we lost considerably.
‘We want to empty our tank’
Dobson said his team will be significantly stronger for their final tour match against the Dragons in Wales this coming weekend.
“We got through the game unscathed. Manie and Ungerer will definitely be back next week and we are going to appeal the Adre Smith ban.
“Hopefully, we can have a bit more to choose from next week.
“Ruhan Nel could have played – he just rolled his ankle during the week.
“We want to empty our tank next week,” said Dobson.”
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