Stormers continue to prove doubters wrong
REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson said it was a “great achievement” to do the double over the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
The Stormers held out a determined Bulls outfit with 14 men in the dying minutes of their clash in Cape Town on Saturday to secure a crucial 19-17 victory in this North-South showpiece.
The win marked the Capetonians’ fifth in a row in the competition and saw them leap up on the log to fifth with three league games remaining – two of which are home games, which places them in a comfortable position for a quarterfinal place.
Saturday’s victory was also their second against the Bulls after they recorded a 30-26 victory in Pretoria in January.
“I am pleased with how we are standing, for a team that was largely written off,” Dobson told reporters after the game.
“I don’t think we were highly thought of by our opposition – [they thought we were] poorly coached with a poor group of players.
“I think what we want to do is to qualify for Europe and be in the play-offs.
“Winning the [South African] shield is not critical. What is critical is to be in the top seven to be sure of Champions Cup [participation] next year.
“I think that is a realistic goal given where we are now.”
Dobson added: “To beat the Bulls home and away, a team as well-coached and well-drilled as they are, for our little team it’s a great achievement.
“As I said last week, to be in striking distance of the Bulls and Sharks is great.”
That step… 😱
How good from Dayimani 👀 #URC | #STOvBUL pic.twitter.com/X9q8O6XyXQ— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 9, 2022
Despite getting a yellow card late in the game for a high tackle, Hacjivah Dayimani still walked away with the man-of-the-match award and Dobson was proud of the 24-year-old’s performance.
“He [Dayimani] was outstanding,” said the Stormers coach.
“I think Evan [Roos] didn’t play at least two of those local derbies in January and Hacjivah does a lot of work in terms of physicality, and he has got a powerful story.
“He was outstanding in terms of what he brings on attack and the way covers ground.”
On Dayimani’s yellow card for the high tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse, Dobson added: “I have no qualms about what he did.”
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