Sorry to be that guy, but there’s just no way the Stormers can afford to go down to Connacht at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
In my books, that will amount to a poor dometic season all around for South African teams, including coach John Dobson’s chargers.
After getting the rub of the green to stay in the Mother City for the semifinal against Andy Friend’s Connacht, the pressure will be on the defending champions to book their place in the final for a second year running.
We'll be aiming to make it back-to-back Grand Finals when we take on Connacht in our @Vodacom #URC semifinal at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 10, 2023
🎟️Get your tickets now https://t.co/J9Dq7IoX52#iamastormer #dhldelivers #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/hK3mDRVAtT
Say what you want, Connacht isn’t Leinster… and the European Champions Cup finalists are the ones we should be measuring ourselves against, not the “doppies” who stunned Ulster last weekend.
Of course, the players can’t be thinking that because they have to be up for this match. It’s simple - if they don’t pitch up, they will go down.
Your @BKTTires Power Play of the Week… 🛞![CDATA[]]>👇
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 10, 2023
An incredible double tackle from @ConnachtRugby 💪![CDATA[]]>💥#BKTURC #URC | #Teamwork pic.twitter.com/KPpB24qEzT
But this Stormers team under Dobson has never given me any indication - at home at least - that they aren’t going to pitch up.
The good thing about the final is that it’s only two weeks after this weekend’s match. I do think the Stormers will have to travel to Leinster for that one.
The two-week window, however, should give them enough time to go over there and prepare properly. Besides, Leinster would have laid all their plans bare the week before when they face Dillyn Leyds and his La Rochelle teammates in the Champions Cup final.
I’d imagine Dobson or some of his staff members, if not the span, would possibly be there for that - just to soak in the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium and get a feel for what could await them. Aah, the Champions Cup.
With three Irish teams in the final four of the URC and the Stormers, in particular, disappointing in their quarterfinal defeat to Exeter Chiefs in Europe, I do feel that getting to the final is the minimum expectation - not only for the team, but for South Africa as a whole.
As we move closer and closer to the World Cup, the Stormers are no longer playing for just themselves and the people of Cape Town, they are playing for the hele country.
Yes, even for the Bulls fans.
I can not imagine how big of a blow it will be to SA rugby as a whole if two Irish teams play in the URC final, while it’s France v Ireland in the Champions Cup.
That’s why the Stormers Connacht afford to lose this weekend.
dudley.carstens@inl.co.za