VIDEO: Wasteful Stormers 'don't deserve time off'
02/16/2025 02:47 AM
REACTION: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson believes that the United Rugby Championship Round 12 clash against the Bulls in Pretoria on March 1 is a do-or-die showdown.
The Capetonians suffered their seventh defeat out of 11 games this season after they went down 23-30 to the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The home side terrorised the Stormers out wide, scoring three tries to race to a 24-6 lead at half-time.
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Things changed in the second half, with the Stormers dominating possession and territory, but they could only manage two tries.
While the Lions were stubborn on defence, the Stormers were also guilty of being too erratic on attack and they lost the ball way too easily on numerous occasions.
"I think we were turned over 12 times by half-time. We came out after the break and there were another two turnovers," said Dobson.
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"We just turned over too much ball. I think we were 100 percent in the line-out today [Saturday].
"I think we had 70 percent possession and 63 percent territory. I think it was a pretty empathic performance,
"We were just too loose with the ball and the Lions punished us for it.
"The positive would be our effort, but the horrible counter side is our inaccuracy. We are too loose with the ball against a team that is brilliant on transitions and turnovers.
"Those tries in the first half had the Lions' stamp all over it and we didn't stop it."
Dobson added: "The Lions were far more accurate than us at the breakdown.
"They stripped in the tackle and their physical commitment was amazing.
"They defended exceptionally. I don't know how many 22 entries we had, but they just wouldn't go away, so credit to them.
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The Stormers' next three matches are away from home, starting with that match against the Bulls in Pretoria on March 1 and Dobson knows that they will need an upset to turn their season around.
"We had this match [against the Lions], and in two weeks we are in Pretoria, and then we've got matches in Llanelli [Scarlets] and Belfast [Ulster]. We had to win two out of these four because we've got a nice home run and we think that could get us enough [points].
"Unfortunately, not winning today [Saturday] leaves us needing two wins out of the next three. We pretty much have to win in Pretoria to stay alive. It's easier said than done.
"Next week is a slightly down week. We will train and we can't go off - we don't deserve to go off. We've got plans to make for the Bulls.
"The reality is that it will be the same team that played last week [in a 32-33 defeat to the Bulls] and the same team that played today because none of our big names [on the injury list] will be back."
@rugby365com
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