The fight the Stormers showed was the most pleasing aspect of their victory over the Bulls according to director of rugby John Dobson.
His troops pulled off a stunning 19-16 result against the odds at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to deny the home side a first-ever double win over them in the round-robin stages of the United Rugby Championship (URC) season. With the four points away from home, the Cape side also keeps their hopes alive of making the knockouts.
Despite torrential rain and lightning causing a major delay to the start of the game, it was the visitors who came out firing in the first half to gain the ascendancy. Dobson highlighted this quick-fire start, despite the disruptions, as a crucial platform form which they could build.
DHL Stormers overcome tough conditions at Loftus to claim an important victory 🔝⚫#VURC pic.twitter.com/24MCsAyVXV
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"It is a special place to win, so the result," Dobson answered after being asked what was the most pleasing thing about the game.
"But, the fight the guys showed from the first kick-off, the way we counter-rucked. We just fought and fought for every scrap and contact point. That was probably most pleasing. Jurie Matthee is also an unheralded guy, in those conditions he did a really good job. We didn't go away, that was pleasing."
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Dobson said they looked to single out Bulls flyhalf Willie le Roux with that initial kick-off so that they could hit the ruck and turn the ball over. It panned out and Matthee could kick the first of his four penalties as his tally of 14 points with the boot led the side to victory.
Despite the conditions not favouring a running game, something the Stormers are known for, Dobson feels they still tried to do too much with the ball in hand. He added that they could've turned to the kicking game sooner in the clash.
The smoothest slide in rugby?! 👀
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Jeppe High School For Boys Alum Wandisile Simelane sliding to score for the @DHLStormers ⚡️@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSTO #OriginRound #GrassrootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/GSzZKBv89P
Eventually, it was the kicks of Matthee, scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer and replacement halfback Paul de Wet that put the Bulls under immense pressure in the air. From an aerial bomb off the boot of Matthee, outside centre Wandisile Simelane scored the winning try.
"We were trying to move it around and the message at halftime was to kick quicker and sooner. We were poor like that in the first half. In the second we were more direct with the kicks.
"I was disappointed with the conditions because I thought it could've been a cracking game of rugby. We had some nice plans. But it became a coin toss in those conditions."