Stormers coach John Dobson has described their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks on Saturday as “potentially season-defining”.
The Stormers won all four of their first games, but suffered a 33-14 defeat to the Blues at Newlands before last week’s bye.
The result – and especially the performance – came as a shock given the results Dobson’s side had racked up until then.
And seeing as they’ll be keen to get back to winning ways, the next game is a big one.
HIGH STAKES: Stormers boss John Dobson knows these stakes of the game are high. Picture: BackpagePix.
Dobson says: “It’s a massive game for us, it’s funny how the world can change quickly.
“In terms of the conference, what happened last week was probably the best thing for us because if the Jaguares start going and we have to go up there to Buenos Aires, it’s going to be tough.
“This game is potentially a season-defining game for us. The competition still has a long way to go, but it feels like it’s season-defining to us.
SHARK ATTACK: Curwin Bosch. Picture: BackpagePix.
“To me our game against the Blues was the worst version of three tries to two, so there has been a lot of introspection into our work rate and stuff.
“Four or five guys have apologised to the team. There must have been an element of complacency that we didn’t pick up.”
The Stormers’ season is by no means in trouble or derailed after what happened against the Blues. But for the team and for Dobson it would have been particularly disappointing.
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— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS)
Dobson also shared what he’s expecting from the in-form Sharks, adding: “The Sharks have a massive kicking game and they play a lot off turnovers, their kicking distance and kicking contestables are big.
“Their transition from defence to attack is superb.”
One positive for the Stormers going into this clash is the fact that they are relatively clean on the injury front, bar the long term injuries.
“Other than the big injuries to Siya [Kolisi], Pieter-Steph [du Toit], Bongi [Mbonambi] and Ali, we’re fine.”
Stormers
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff ( captain).
Bench: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Rikus Pretorius, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Sharks
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche
Bench: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Madosh Tambwe