VIDEO: The 'circuit breaker' that could save the Stormers
‘We are up against it now.’
In that sentence is encapsulated the dire predicament the Stormers find themselves in as the United Rugby Championship heads into the November international break.
With just two wins from five starts in the opening six weeks, the Cape Town outfit is well outside the top 10 (13th) on the tournament standings.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson bemoaned his team’s early-season struggles – with the losses to the Scottish teams, Edinburgh (7-38) and Glasgow Warriors (17-29), the most painful.
He pinpointed injuries and their poor kicking as the key takeaways from the opening six weeks of the URC season.
The ‘pause’ for the internationals perhaps came at the right time.
After the November break, the Stormers restart their season with a tricky trip to the Shark Tank in Durban (URC, Round Seven) – followed by a fortnight of Champions Cup action (Toulon in Port Elizabeth and Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop), before they resume their URC campaign with a home game against the Lions on December 21.
The coastal derby will be key for their season.
“We pushed hard during this opening spell,” Dobson said of the first six weeks.
“We wanted this result,” he said of the loss to the defending champions this past weekend.
“It meant a lot to us.
“We have to have a circuit breaker,” he said of the importance of resetting.
“Some of the guys will get a couple of weeks rest.
“The Currie Cup guys will get their three-week break.
“[The Sharks] will be a massive game for us.
“We are up against it now.
“We know we aren’t the biggest chequebook team in the league, but we pride ourselves on exceeding the sum of our parts.”
(WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson reveals his plans to salvage a season that has the potential to become a horror show….)
Dobson admitted injuries have been a big bane for the Cape Town franchise.
Damian Willemse, who left the field in the 36th minute of the loss to the Warriors in Stellenbosch, will be sidelined for three to four months with a groin injury.
Dobson admitted his injury is a ‘massive blow’ for the Cape Town franchise.
Prop Frans Malherbe, who suffered an ankle injury in Stellenbosch, is listed as ‘not serious’, but no return date has been set.
Utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon suffered a knee injury in the loss to the Warriors, but the extent of his problem is uncertain.
Dobson revealed that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the Bok find of the year, will be back in December, after recovering from a knee injury.
Lock Salmaan Moerat is also expected to return in December, after undergoing knee surgery.
Deon Fourie is expected back in mid-December after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year.
Connor Evans and Ben Loader are expected back in December, while loose forward Evan Roos is only expected back early next year, after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Prop Sithembiso Sithole will be sidelined for another two months with a ‘syndesmosis’ problem.
Dobson is hoping for a ‘massive response’ from the Stormers when they return to action against the Sharks on November 30.
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