Challenge clear for DHL Stormers

Director of Rugby John Dobson was left frustrated by the defeat in the DHL Stormers’ Vodacom United Rugby Championship 2024/25 opener on Saturday and says that the areas that require improvement are clear as they face another big challenge in Italy this weekend.

The DHL Stormers were edged 37-24 by the Ospreys in a hard-fought encounter in Bridgend. Flyhalf Jurie Matthee kicked 11 points for the visitors while left wing Leolin Zas and lock JD Schickerling crossed the tryline either side of half time at the Dunraven Brewery Field.

The clash was the DHL Stormers’ opening match of the fourth Vodacom URC season, and they will next face Zebre Parma at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday, before concluding their three-match tour in Edinburgh.

Key takeaways from the Ospreys result

“It’s weird, because it is a similar outcome as the start of last season’s Vodacom URC tour, but I feel better about this. A lot of the aspects of our game we are working on was there. There were some nice performances from a number of players. The Ospreys were really good in the second half. They scored off a great strike move from the line-out. But there are still some really good signs for us. We really wanted to win though, so it is disappointing.”

The growth and development of Jurie Matthee

“He is still a developing flyhalf. I don’t think we exited as well as we could have, yet Jurie was solid. It was a tough outing overall but he’s got potential and a nice temperament.”

Selection calls and work-ons for Zebre Parma

“Sazi Sandi and Warrick Gelant will come back in. If you look at the Ospreys game and where we can remedy it, it is through team selection. Our lineouts were excellent, 100 percent, but we lost a few contestable kicks and we struggled a bit in that department.”