Dobson Urges Stormers to Keep Building

Stormers coach Dobson calls for consistency and improvement as the team prepares for the knockout phase.

Three talking points for the United Rugby Championship (URC) round:

1. Willemse's form: Can Sharks' versatile backline player Lourens Willemse maintain his impressive form against Cardiff?
2. Harris' return: Will Munster's talented flyhalf Joey Harris make an impact in his return from injury against the Stormers?
3. Welsh teams in action: All four Welsh regions (Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets) host South African teams, promising thrilling matches and potential upsets.

The United Rugby Championship (URC) features all four Welsh teams in action against South African sides. The Sharks kick off against the Ospreys on Friday night, followed by the Bulls hosting Cardiff on Saturday, and the Stormers facing the Dragons later that day. The Lions conclude the round on Sunday against the Scarlets.

Sharks coach John Plumtree praised the Welsh teams, saying, “The Welsh boys are tough and they don’t go away, they keep coming at you. They create their own belief, they’re very passionate about the game and they shut the outside noise off, not listening to what is said about them, even though they’re going through a lot right now. That makes them tough.” Plumtree urged his team to view the Ospreys as obstacles to their own ambitions, challenging his players to “go through them.”

“They create their own belief, they’re very passionate about the game and they shut the outside noise off, not listening to what is said about them, even though they’re going through a lot right now. That makes them tough.”

Sharks coach John Plumtree emphasized the need for his team to tackle the Ospreys head-on, saying, “We need to take the mentality that the Ospreys are standing in the way of our own ambitions and challenged his players to 'go through them' to achieve them.” Plumtree also highlighted the team's preparation, adding, “In our prep this week, we showed the boys what Ospreys are all about and they were sitting on the edge of their seats.”

Milestone for Willemse and Harris Returns

The Stormers are set to celebrate a major milestone on Saturday when Springboks World Cup winner Damian Willemse plays his 100th game for the team against the Dragons. At just 27, Willemse is the youngest player to achieve this feat and only the 11th person overall. His versatility has been key to his frequent appearances for the Stormers. Meanwhile, Stormers flyhalf Joey Harris, who is also set to feature against the Dragons, is making a return after recovering from injury.

“You will not find a more professional player, but what really stands out is his commitment and loyalty.

“It means so much for him to represent this team and our supporters, so this is a big moment in the career of one of our greatest players.”

The Stormers will celebrate two special players on Saturday: Damian Willemse, who will play his 100th game, and Brok Harris, who has announced his retirement after a distinguished career. Harris, 40, will be honored after a knee injury forced him to hang up his boots. Stormers coach said, “Damian and Brok both embody what it means to be a DHL Stormer, although they could not be much more different. Both are special players and wonderful people who have given so much to this team, so it will be fantastic to recognise that on Saturday.”

Momentum Crucial as Playoffs Approach

The Bulls and Sharks have secured playoff spots but are chasing a top-four ranking to host a quarterfinal. The Stormers aim to crack the top eight to guarantee a playoff berth. All three teams focus on building momentum for the competition's latter stages, regardless of their league position.

“Looking at the ladder and the points, we’re reasonably happy with where we’re at, but we’re not reasonably happy with the way we’re playing,” Plumtree said.

“Certainly there were moments against Ulster, particularly, when we were pretty good and we looked comfortable on the park.

“But we were also scratching at times, there were lots of soft moments from players and it certainly wasn’t how we prepared.

“I’ve challenged the boys around making sure their game preparation as well as their mental and personal preparation is better so that we can nail those moments in the game that are important to the team.”