John Dobson didn’t duck the tackle or hide behind the referee’s whistle after the Stormers’ second straight derby defeat to the Sharks. Instead, the Stormers coach fronted up and admitted that while the game plan was drawn up neatly, the behaviours at the collision points never shifted.
The Stormers were whistled for 16 penalties and shown two yellow cards in their 38–24 United Rugby Championship (URC) loss in Durban on Saturday, and for Dobson, the most worrying part wasn’t the scoreboard, it was the lack of growth between the two derby encounters.
“We talked about it this week to start the halves well. We probably got both right, but the rest wasn’t a behaviour change from last week. I think the two games were very similar,” said Dobson.
While the Stormers repeatedly knocked on at key moments, the Sharks played with the composure of a side winning the arm-wrestle inch by inch, completing a rare back-to-back Cape Town double.
“Credit to the Sharks, they beat us properly over the past two weeks. Our discipline was poor and our set-piece definitely let us down. I thought their aerial game was really good and they played with a really clear plan that worked for them.”
Instead of tightening their grip at the breakdown, the Stormers loosened it. Seventeen penalties conceded, two more than the previous week, told the story of a side stuck in the same defensive patterns, conceding ground without resistance.
“The most destroying part of last week is that the same things that went wrong last week, went wrong this week. Five-metre lineouts not converted, giving penalties away at mauls which led to some of the discipline stuff. So for the stuff to fix, there needs to be a change in behaviour. It was really poor from us and I feel bad for our supporters.”
What gnawed at Dobson was the sense of déjà vu, the same soft underbelly exposed, the same pressure points targeted.
“The most frustrating thing about tonight [Saturday] is that everything that went wrong last week went wrong this week. There has to be a behaviour change; it is really poor from us and bad for our supporters.”
Once again, the Stormers’ defensive work inside their own five-metre zone cracked under pressure, turning promising stands into penalty concessions and scoreboard damage.
“Five-metre lineouts not converted, giving penalties away at mauls, which led to some of the discipline stuff. So, to fix the stuff, there needs to be a change in behaviour. It was really poor from us, and I feel bad for our supporters.”
Dobson was quick to salute Sharks coach JP Pietersen, whose side dominated the key exchanges and imposed themselves when it mattered most.
“I give them enormous credit. They’ve come, and they beat us twice. He is obviously doing something right within the organisation. They played with real purpose, a clear plan, so yes, he has done well.”
The aerial contest and the penalty count proved decisive battlegrounds. While the Sharks ruled the skies, the Stormers spent long stretches retreating under pressure and playing a man short.
“We didn’t win the contestable game as much as we would have liked to. They were really good in the air. If you are going to be on 11 penalties in 20 minutes, that’s going to include a card.
“If you are going to play 40 minutes in a South African derby with seven forwards, with Damian Willemse scrumming on the flank a lot of the time, it’s not good enough.”
Stormers captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu echoed his coach’s assessment, admitting discipline knocked the stuffing out of a side that briefly had the upper hand.
“The lack of discipline cost us. When we played our game, we were on top of them. Going into halftime, we were up 24-14, and we just let it slip.
“Within ten minutes, we went from an upbeat team scoring tries. That’s just the reality. We were being reckless, careless and irresponsible. Our discipline is costing us.”
For the Stormers, the message is blunt: unless the habits at the breakdown, maul and aerial contest change, they’ll keep losing the same battles, and bleeding the same points.