VIDEO: The Connacht 'dawg' that can bite Stormers
The Stormers will head into their United Rugby Championship semifinal against Irish province Connacht at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday as favourites – as the always do at home.
In their last encounter, at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch back in September, the Stormers emerged comfortable 38-15 victors.
However, the Irish outfit has shown a mental toughness this season that makes them a far more formidable foe than six months ago.
Stormers coach John Dobson cautioned against the suggestion that it will be a proverbial ‘walk in the park’ this coming weekend.
“They, like ourselves, have dawg,” Dobson said about the visitors this week, adding that they went on a seven-match winning run earlier in the season.
“There is something there [in the team’s make-up] that is really worrying.
“The way they fight,” Dobson said of the doggedness of the unfancied Irish province.
“Their attacking shape is very good and they took Ulster apart at the breakdown [in the quarterfinal this past weekend].”
(Article continues below the John Dobson interview ...)
Dobson also spoke of the ‘Cinderella’ story that is the Galway-based province.
The story of Connacht began in December 1885 and even to this day they play at The Sportsground – Galway Greyhound Stadium that opened in 1927.
Dobson cautioned his players that they will be facing a team that ‘doesn’t go away’.
“Ulster saw that,” he said of Connacht’s 15-10 quarterfinal win over a fellow Irish province at Ravenhill Stadium, this past Friday.
“They are going to be much tougher opposition than we think.”
Dobson also dismissed the suggestion that the Stormers’ current impressive run of form is solely down to his own doing.
He said it was a “collective” effort in which forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, attack and backs specialist Dawie Snyman, defence mentor Norman Laker and technical analyst Labeeb Levy all put in massive efforts.
“I just sit in the back of the room and make the odd chirp,” Dobson said.
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