Coach John Dobson believes a measured game plan paid rich dividends in the Stormers’ 48-12 demolition of the Glasgow Warriors.
The Stormers bounced back from a 33-24 to Connacht last week with a convincing performance that took them back to the top of the Vodacom URC log with two rounds remaining.
Dobson admitted the build-up to the Connacht game had taken a heavy emotional toll following the death of team manager Chippie Solomon, but said there was a noticeable shift this week.
“I think we could focus a bit more on the rugby this week,” he said.
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The Stormers were clinical from start to finish, something Dobson highlighted as a key improvement.
“If you’re saying we played conservatively, then yes, probably. It was more like playoff rugby,” he said.
“Last week we were desperate and forced things, shovelling inferior ball. This week we applied pressure, we knew we could put some pressure on set-piece wise and that was effective.
“We didn’t need to create the magic today, so that helped. I thought the decision-making was excellent.”
He pointed to one ill-advised grubber by Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu which “was off-plan and cost us a try” and a few needless “middle-earth penalties” that gave Glasgow entries.
“That was the only sort of negatives, the rest was stuck to plan.”
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Captain Ruhan Nel said the team was switched on for the match.
“You could feel from the start of the week the boys were ready to get back to business. The energy shifted,” Nel said. “It was about doing something for ourselves.”
Nel also addressed the flak that followed the Connacht defeat.
“We embrace criticism, but there was a lack of understanding about what we went through,” he said. “I just feel like there was a lack of respect, a lack of understanding towards the team and what we went through.
“That also was part of the motivation this week, that put a little bit of an anger in us. That added motivation.”
Dobson was more direct, hitting out those who said the Stormers were a team on the slide.
“We got a lot of criticism for the Connacht performance, but to understand what this team was going through, or what Chippie meant to us and to this organisation … to expect those guys to perform normally.
“It’s just a lack of humanity in my mind, the pressure they were under.
“We wanted to put in a proper performance, so to have done it like that and in the manner that we did, it’s a really happy change room at this stage and we can build on this.”
The URC takes a break next week for the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals.
The Stormers will now prepare for their upcoming tour where they will face Ulster and Cardiff to complete their URC regular season.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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