Their game management was a defining feature of the DHL Stormers’ success in five overseas games spread across two competitions, the Vodacom URC and the Investec Champions Cup, but when it was expected that they’d close out their derby against the Lions it didn’t happen.
Instead of closing the game out by playing in opposition territory and holding onto the ball, the Stormers appeared determined to let the Lions back into the game once they’d recovered from their poor start to the game to take a 34-20 lead in the second half.
Poor decisions, some indiscipline and some other errors conspired against the Stormers to allow the Lions to break back with a try and a few minutes from the end of the game they were pressing for the converted try that might have allowed the Johannesburg team to leave Cape Town with a share of the spoils.
In the end the Stormers survived, but it wasn’t surprising to hear their director of rugby John Dobson pinpoint that period of abysmal game management as his biggest concern as he looks ahead now to the next derby against the Vodacom Bulls, also in Cape Town, on 3 January.
“We kind of expected what happened early in the game, the storm that we had to weather, so for me that was the biggest disappointment,” said Dobson.
“We didn’t close the game out like we should have, and that is something we have been very good at this season. We were 14 points up, we should just have closed the game out and we should never have made it that difficult.”
What Dobson was happy about though was the resilience his team showed early on, when the Lions took advantage of what looked like a decidedly sleepy Stormers start to take an early lead and lay their line under constant siege.
“Our defence did really well, the guys worked hard for each other in that period. There’s definitely something in this group. We don’t have a team of big names but we have a bunch of guys who are willing to work so hard for one another.”
One of those “guys” is Dylan Maart, a loanee from Griquas who only joined the team when they went to Munster for a crucial URC game just before the break for the Champions Cup games against Bayonne and La Rochelle.
He’s scored a try in every game he has played for the Stormers and after initially coming in to fill in for the injured Seabelo Senatla, who will be fit for the Bulls game, it looks like the move may become permanent.
“We’re busy chatting to them about converting him (into a permanent Stormers player),” said Dobson after a 34-27 win that featured an important first half try from Maart at a period when the Stormers were struggling to stay in the game.
“He wants to stay. I think the people will want him to stay (after his performances) and Griquas are open to it. So we will do the conversion.”
The backline remains a bigger concern for Dobson than the forwards, with both centres who played against the Lions, Jonathan Roche and Wandisile Simelane, ending the game with hand injuries.
According to Dobson, Roche’s injury looks the more serious, and centre is a position where injuries can’t be afforded as Dan du Plessis is out for a few more weeks and so is the experienced Ruhan Nel.
However, the probable loss of Roche, who has continued the impressive start to his senior career that started this time last year, will be offset for the Bulls game by the expected return of Springbok Damian Willemse. Although he has played most of his international rugby at fullback, he has been primarily a No 12 for the Stormers.
Suleiman Hartzenberg also made his return off the bench against the Lions and while he has played most of his rugby for the Stormers on the wing, he has always fancied himself as an outside centre. Indeed, it was with the No 13 on his back that Hartzenberg excelled in a Christmas URC derby against the Bulls a few seasons ago.