VIDEO: ‘No one gave us a chance’: Stormers silence doubters
REACTION: Typically, in the United Rugby Championship, the Stormers hold the upper hand over their South African rivals, but that has not been the case this season.
John Dobson’s side went into the match under pressure after suffering three derby defeats, two against the Sharks and one against the Lions, a run of results that saw them slip down the standings.
However, they are now back up to second after the four-try win in Pretoria.
The Stormers pummelled the Bulls in the set-pieces, especially in the second half, and it laid the foundation for their victory, and also led to Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu shedding a few tears in the changeroom.
Dobson admitted that the hype around the resurgent Bulls and disregard for the Stormers helped them in the build-up.
“From where we came from, there was a lot of doubt, a lot of questions, a lot of noise around some of our players, people asking ‘What is wrong with the Stormers?’” the coach said.
“We were under a lot of pressure. A team that was unbeaten. And all the hype,” he said, and added, “It was probably our most important win. And probably our most dominant up here.
“No one gave us a chance, especially if you come to a place like this.
“It’s so emotional, rugby isn’t it?
“The derbies are just so different from the overseas games.
“It’s a really good Bulls team. All around the field.
“I’m not saying it because we won. It was a proper test match. There were 46 excellent rugby players out there today at a high level.
“It’s a proper Bulls team. It’s not a Bulls team in crisis; it’s a Bulls team with momentum, with real class.
“It’s a big win for us,” he affirmed.
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Captain Ruan Nel agreed.
“They’ve got so many attacking threats. At one stage of the game, I was looking up, and I saw Kurt-Lee [Arendse] on the wing, Canan [Moodie] at 13, Harold [Vorster], Pollie [Handre Pollard], and they brought on Willie [le Roux], and I was like, flip, it’s basically a Springbok backline.
“The patience we showed was great. It was a sign of maturity as well. It’s a true testament of our character and the hard work we’ve put in over the last few weeks,” Nel commented.
“It’s so easy for a team like us to give the ball to a Sacha or Warrick [Gelant] and say do magic to get us points.
“But it’s actually the opposite
“Sacha was brilliant. He had one linebreak late in the first half. Up until then, he was just feeding the guys, kicking accurately.
“And when his opportunity came, he took it.
“He was in tears in the changeroom, and I said to him, ‘Enjoy it, we are under a lot of pressure’.
“He needed it.
“We just had to get back to our identity of strong setpiece, do the basics well, and then Stormers rugby just comes naturally for us,” the captain explained.
*Recap all the action HERE!
On their discipline and superior setpiece performance, Dobson seemed surprised. He didn’t expect the Bulls to take Wilco Louw off in the 45th minute.
“The setpiece was unusual…against a team like the Bulls.
“We could’ve gone helter-skelter, and that’s where Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] deserves enormous praise.
“We saw the mistakes [in previous games] and we all agree on it.
“The discipline was much better, both in terms of the penalties [15-7] and in terms of how we applied ourselves.”
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