The DHL Stormers ended 2024 on a high note with a gritty 24-20 victory over coastal rivals the Sharks in the Vodacom URC. Moving up to ninth on the table, the Stormers are poised to kick off the new year with momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
Key Highlights:
1. Second-Half Turnaround
- Trailing 10-5 at halftime, the Stormers came alive with three second-half tries to secure a bonus-point win.
- John Dobson credited the Sharks for their disruptive play but praised his side’s resilience: “It was messy, but in that second half, I thought we opened them up quite well.”
2. URC Season Back on Track
- With two successive bonus-point wins at Cape Town Stadium, Dobson believes the Stormers are now in a strong position to make a playoff push.
- “This was a defining time, and if we didn’t get it today, things would’ve got pretty tough.”
3. Champions Cup Ambitions
- The Stormers face the Sale Sharks on 11 January, hoping for their first win in this year’s Champions Cup campaign.
- Dobson emphasized the importance of this fixture: “We’ll give it a spin, shackles off. If we get it, we’ll go on a proper tour; if not, Racing 92 will be academic.”
Injury Updates:
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu: Forced off for the third consecutive game, this time with a clavicle injury. Dobson admitted, “We probably should’ve pulled the trigger for him to come off a bit earlier.”
- Boost for January: Leolin Zas, Evan Roos, and Sti Sithole are expected to return for the Champions Cup clash.
Player Spotlight:
Deon Fourie’s Leadership
- The skipper lauded the team’s fighting spirit: “We made our own errors, but you can’t buy or teach fight.”
- Fourie emphasized balancing the squad’s creativity with structure: “We’ve got magical players, but sometimes you have to earn the magic.”
Looking Ahead:
The Stormers have a week’s break before their crucial Champions Cup fixture. With their domestic campaign on an upswing, Dobson’s side has everything to play for in 2025.