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Stormers' frank admission despite win over 'Leinster B'

Seabelo Senatla of DHL Stormers is tackled by Rob Russell of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Leinster at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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

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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.

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“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.”

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

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“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.

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“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.”

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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