Stormers coach John Dobson during a press conference Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has praised his team's efforts after going down to Toulon in a Champions Cup clash in Gqeberha on Saturday. Photo: Phando Jikelo/Independent Media
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Media
Stormers' head coach John Dobson was impressed with his team's efforts after they went down 24-14 to French giants Toulon in a bruising Champions Cup encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday evening.
The Stormers were ahead at the break, but were outmuscled by their opponents in the second 40 minutes.
The men from Cape Town went into the game without Springboks Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Damian Willemse, Evan Roos, and Steven Kitshoff, who all missed out due to injury. At the end of the game, loose forward Keke Morabe and flyhalf Manie Libbok were added to the injury list.
“It’s a sore changing room, two guys in hospital," Dobson said when speaking to journalists after the game ended. It was a brutal game. We stuck around, the fight was nice but I don’t think I’ve seen a bigger team. It’s incomparable to La Rochelle.
“Somebody will say it’s an excuse but not through substitutions or selections, but to play that game without Deon [Fourie], Evan [Roos], Keke, BJ, Frans, Kitsie, Damian, Sacha, Manie. It’s not insignificant. Dobson said.
“From that aspect the way we stuck around was good. On eight minutes to go they had 13 men. We just had to stay on the field, and could’ve scored down the other end. We could’ve been in … but outmuscled probably.”
Speaking about the injuries, Dobson said: "Keke has fractured his leg again ... which is really tough. I think it’s the same one but I might be wrong. Manie is very bad. He’s gone to hospital, normal concussion you don’t go straight to hospital. BJ failed his second HIA (head injury assessment).
“If you look at the nature of the injuries … we’re not doing soft tissue injuries, it’s trauma injuries. It’s a bit like frogs in the pot – when you look up and it’s suddenly boiling you realise all those guys are out, and it’s tough," said the Stormers coach.
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