- The Stormers continue their preparations for the United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls this Saturday.
- Head coach John Dobson candidly spoke about squaring up against Bulls director of rugby Jake White.
- Dobson expressed his deep affection for the coaching he does, saying this is his biggest coaching week yet.
As the build-up to the United Rugby Championship reaches fever pitch, Stormers head coach John Dobson impressed upon reporters on Wednesday just how much the team, and the province means to him.
Elevated to the head coach vacancy in 2020, Dobson has now overseen a successful Stormers team in inter-continental competition for the first time since 2010.
He has, over the past few weeks, ginned up newfound support for the Stormers. Said support was no more evident than when fans were left furious and frustrated that they could not book tickets for the final to be held in the Mother City.
Competition dispenser TicketPro detonated at the volume of traffic generated by fans looking for tickets.
After tickets went live on Tuesday midday, they spent much of Wednesday ploughing through furious emails. They handed out some tickets, but some were left in the lurch.
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Before the emotion set in, Dobson was unequivocal in saying this is his biggest week as a coach.
He's previously coached the Western Province Under-21 side, helping them to victory in the Under-21 Provincial Championship in his first season at the helm and then again in 2013.
As coach of the Vodacom Cup team, he won the competition for the first and only time in the union’s history in 2012.
"Yeah, definitely [is the biggest week of his coaching]. This one is more important than me. It’s important for the people of Cape Town," the always affable Dobson said on Wednesday.
Different mission
The Stormers won 12 of their 18 regular-season matches in the URC, and have the South African Shield to show for it.
His coaching nemesis this weekend is Bulls director of rugby Jake White. A well-travelled coach who took to the Bulls job in 2020, like a duck to water.
White has coached the Springboks, Brumbies, Sharks, Montpellier and Toyota Verblitz as part of his resume.
It is something Dobson has great respect for, even though he’s beaten the Bulls twice in the round-robin stages of the competition this season.
"I’ve got enormous respect for him. It feels like a privilege for me to coach against someone of his stature… he’s coached all over the world. He's coached in bigger games than this."
Dobson then changed tack, opening up about his coaching mission.
"My mission is slightly different in that I want to coach Western Province and the Stormers. I want rugby in this region; I grew up here. To me, this is not a coaching contract..."
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Dobson’s charges earned their spot in the final by beating Ulster 17-15 in Cape Town last weekend, while White’s lieutenants travelled to Dublin to secure their spot, stunning tournament favourites Leinster, 27-26.
"I can appreciate that they may come for revenge but for us, it’s a classic derby, starting from scratch."
The two coaches will name their sides on Friday.
Saturday’s final gets underway at 19:30 in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.