Stormers' frank admission despite win over 'Leinster B'

The objective of reaching the United Rugby Championship Final Eight has been accompanied by a sense of disappointment for Stormers head coach John Dobson.

The Stormers booked their place in the playoffs with a hard-fought 20-13 win over log-leaders Leinster.

Despite the victory, the Capetonians failed to secure a bonus point and dropped from second to fourth on the log, tied with Munster and the Sharks on 56 points.

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Dobson’s men are still in contention for a home quarter-final and possibly place in next season’s Champions Cup.

Leinster will go home the happiest, missing some key players like Johny Sexton, the Irish giants secured a losing bonus point and will conclude the season on top of the table.

Speaking to reporters, Dobson made a very honest admission after his team failed to score a fourth try for the full house of points.

“There is a feeling of anti-climax,” Dobson said, adding: “A coach, I think it was Tony Booth [of Ospreys], told me earlier in the season that the best team in the competition is Leinster, and the second-best team is Leinster B, and I don’t think he was joking.

“But my disappointment is not about that, it is about some of the errors we made. Whether that was discipline or at the lineout, we could have got the fourth try.

“I have to say, I’m not disappointed with the performance or effort, we knew we were going to be in for a hard game, but some of the penalties we conceded were just [silly] – think there is where the anti-climatic feel comes in.

“And the other disappointment stems from our own standards.

“I think it’s quite a good reflection on this group that has just played Leinster and feeling like we are walking in after a loss.”

The coach also admitted that he made a calamitous mistake by overemphasising the importance of the game and placing ‘unhealthy’ pressure on his charges.

“From my side, I think I made a bit of a coaching error, about it being a high-stakes game, those were literally the opening words when I spoke to the team on Saturday. I am not sure transferring that sort of pressure is healthy,”he said.

“My concern as a coach was that they were going to think it is Leinster B and anybody who has watched them over the years would know that they mix and match their teams beautifully.

“I was trying to put pressure on the guys to make sure they realise they are not playing a B side. We felt that pressure and maybe I felt it. We had a lot to lose and not much to win and I think it reflected in the performance.”

However, the coach was not all doom and gloom and managed to find some positives ahead of their last league match against Scarlets on May 21.

“Compared to where we were, this has been an amazing turnaround for us,” Dobson admitted.

“We are in a position where we are going into the final round tied in the second position.

“Yes, some are ahead on points difference, but it doesn’t change what we have to do in the last game. If we go to Scarlets and get five points we should finish second.

“So in that sense, I am happy.”