The Stormers have set huge requirements for South African sides after an excellent first two seasons within the URC.
The Stormers are excited and fired up to get the brand new United Rugby Championship (URC) season, which kicks off in late October, underway as they aim an improved marketing campaign from what they delivered final season.
The Cape Town aspect hosted a press convention to announce their new captain for the approaching season earlier this week, with Bok lock Salmaan Moerat taking up the reins from Steven Kitshoff, who has made the transfer to Ulster.
ALSO READ: Salmaan Moerat again as Stormers captain after Kitshoff departure
Despite the truth that the Stormers have set huge requirements for South African sides after an excellent first two seasons within the competitors, profitable the inaugural version after which internet hosting a second consecutive last, coach John Dobson believes they’ll get even higher.
On the hunt
“We felt last season that it was tough being defending champions and we need to get better. We are going to hunt to be the top team in the URC (this coming season), and we want to control where the final will be played and not rely on other results,” defined Dobson.
“It’s only a nicer mindset to be in as a result of if we’re looking and chasing a workforce like Leinster we are going to get shut. Standing on the summit (as defending champs) with everybody coming at us was not really easy.
“The South African defend will be a lot tighter. I don’t assume that feat (beating all SA groups house and away) goes to be repeated. But what I’m satisfied of is that we clearly have to get higher.
“We have identified four key areas in our game model that if we get right, in how we coach and especially in how we manage the players, we can be better.”
Surrendered title
Although the Stormers surrendered their title to Munster in a pulsating URC last on the Cape Town Stadium again in May, they got here extraordinarily shut to turning into two time winners.
But they did have to depend on some luck to be in a position to host the ultimate ultimately, after they completed third on the log on the finish of the season, however have been nonetheless in a position to host a semifinal after Connacht upset Ulster, after which the ultimate after Munster upset Leinster.
“I think we managed last season really well. It’s tough being defending champions in a competition like this. So for us to win the SA shield by 15 points I think we did really well,” admitted Dobson.
“The fact is we have been 4 and a half minutes away from retaining the title. Often whenever you don’t win folks say that the whole lot was unsuitable. Look, we have been poor within the last and the pitch was stunning.
“But we were leading with four and a half minutes to go, with a scrum in their half and from there we messed it up, so not everything was wrong.”
Lucky outcomes
Dobson continued: “Where we have been fortunate was that different outcomes allowed us to host the ultimate once more and that’s one thing that offers us an enormous incentive. We offered that stadium out in beneath three hours, which completely confirmed our mission and the explanation why we play.
“To fill the stadium sooner than when there’s a (Bok) Test match is nice. The solely manner we repay folks for the frustration of not profitable that sport (the ultimate) is to be sure that we host the ultimate once more.
“We can’t rely on luck for us to host again. So there is a nice challenge for us this season to be much better. We did finish level on points with Ulster last season, but our goal is to chase Leinster and get better.”
Source link
