Jaguares set for DHL Newlands ‘cracker’
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson is expecting ‘an absolute cracker’ at DHL Newlands on Saturday when his team face the Jaguares.
Dobson’s charges showed incredible character to claim a last-gasp 33-30 win against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg, to make it three consecutive wins this season.
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A try from outside centre Ruhan Nel after the hooter saw the DHL Stormers claim a dramatic win, which sets up their showdown with the team from Argentina at DHL Newlands perfectly.
The DHL Stormers Head Coach was happy with the immense character his team showed to fight back at the death in Johannesburg, but he knows that they will have to raise their standards significantly when they go up against last year’s beaten finalists the Jaguares.
“It was agony, but we showed some character, which is one thing we have done this season.
“I don’t think we are operating at half our capacity, which is frustrating, but the good thing is the character we are showing,” he said.
Dobson explained that the players themselves never stopped believing that they could win against the Emirates Lions, which paid off in dramatic style at the end.
“The players said to themselves at the end that they has plenty of time to score and they were convinced about their starter move from that scrum. It shows a bit of clarity that they had a plan,” he revealed.
The DHL Stormers coach believes that his team have a lot more to offer on attack, if they manage to get some continuity in their game.
“My frustration was that at 26-15 we had quite a few opportunities in their 22 and we didn’t convert.
“It is two weeks in a row that we haven’t really shown our attack. I know we scored a few tries, but there was no sustained attack,” he said.
Dobson expects a huge physical battle from the Jaguares next week, which should make for Test match intensity at DHL Newlands.
“The Jaguares are a very physical side, I think they are a slightly different side to what they were last year.
“DHL Newlands is a different environment, against the Jaguares we want to go back to our traditional game with our forwards carrying nicely and hopefully creating more space for our backs.
“They are touted to be the conference winners, so it should be an absolute cracker at DHL Newlands and we are going to play nicer rugby than we have over the last few weeks,” Dobson added.
