VIDEO: Stormers' plan paid off against Bulls
WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby explains how his team learned from their past mistakes in their United Rugby Championship 19-16 win against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Dobson said that his side’s plan to start better came down to one crucial element: the kick-off.
“Three weeks ago at Cape Town Stadium, they [Bulls] got us at kick-off when Cameron [Hanekom] ran through four of us and then they scored just after half-time.
“The same thing happened here at Loftus a year ago and in some other games like against Leinster.
“So we had plans to start better.
“I know it sounds cliché, but that was the plan to go onto Willie [le Roux] and execute the counter-ruck.
“That felt good that it came off.”
The 2022 URC winning coach said that they didn’t see Willie at No.10 as a weak point but that they changed their kick-off plans to isolate the makeshift flyhalf from his cleaners.
“Willie [Le Roux] is a great player, we wanted the short kick-off onto the middle.
“He [Willie le Roux] would be isolated, and the cleaners would struggle to get there and there’s a counter-ruck opportunity.
“It wasn’t against Willie personally; it was the kick-off where we didn’t want to go to the sides where their big forwards are waiting and then they do their exit.
“It’s quite hard to exit from the middle, even if they survived the counter-ruck.”
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The win meant that the Stormers’ play-off aspirations got a slight boost, and their two away matches against Scarlets and Ulster before a four-game home run would be crucial in the coming weeks.
“We have to go on tour to play Scarlets and Ulster.
“Then we got a nice four-match home run – that should put us properly in the mix.
“We worked out that we have to win two of the four [away fixtures] to get into the top six.
“When it comes to the top eight, you don’t really want to finish in eighth position and having to play Leinster at Lansdowne Road.
“I know the Bulls did a remarkable thing up there a couple of seasons ago.
“Like I said, we needed to win two of the four [away games]. We lost the Lions one, so we needed this one.
“The home ones we will probably finish similar to last year – I think it’s too late for a home play-off, unfortunately.”
Dobson hinted that a few injured star players could make their return ahead of their next game in three weeks against Scarlets, which would be a significant boost for the Cape side, who have been riddled with injuries this season.
“About eight guys are joining us on tour in two weeks.
“Naturally, it would change the way we play – you can throw in Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], Damian [Williemse], Manie [Libbok] or Suleiman Hartzenberg into this group.
“It just changes the way we would play a bit.
“We like the X-factor of that – that’s not good coaching, that’s just special players who can do crazy things.
“Our development now would probably be the reintegration of those guys.”
Video credit @MegafoonRugby
