Coach John Dobson insists the Stormers won’t be lulled into complacency with the Ospreys looming, despite last week’s Leinster demolition.
The Cape side play their second consecutive home game on Friday after a statement 35-0 win over the defending champions, but it’s against one of the few teams they have a negative record against.
The Stormers have suffered two losses and a draw against the Welsh outfit in the last three seasons, and Dobson says his chargers are eager to turn that around.
“It would be a concern had it not been for the fact that we saw how well the Ospreys played in Pretoria [against the Vodacom Bulls]. We know our record against the Ospreys over the last three games is a draw, loss, loss so that’s not really a recipe for complacency.
“The feeling is one of desperation to back up last week, because you don’t want it to be a fluke – you want it to be who we are.”
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Dobson says the players also understand what a positive result would mean ahead of a four-match European tour.
“If we were to say we get through this five-match spell with four out of five, we’d be in a pretty nice position. But it something were to go wrong [against the Ospreys] then we realise we have to win every game on the road to get that goal – if that’s our goal. So it’s very, very important from that point of view.”
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The Stormers mentor will have three Springboks available to him as they head off on tour next week, with scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and fullback Damian Willemse completing their international duty against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.
“Credit to them for wanting to join us as soon as possible, especially after what should hopefully be the high of winning the Rugby Championship on Saturday afternoon.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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