Clayton Blommetjies was devastated after he missed a kick at goal, which could have won the Stormers their URC clash against the Bulls this past Saturday. Photo: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Their hopes of making the top four are all but gone, and even if the loss in the North-South derby will sting for a while, the Stormers are still confident they can make the play-offs of the United Rugby Championship (URC).
After going down 33-32 to their arch-rivals in Cape Town on Saturday, a first loss at home in the URC against them, the inaugural URC champions know every match from now on will be crucial for them.
They came within inches of beating the Bulls, but it’s not all doom and gloom for the inaugural URC winners.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson conceded that their chance for top four in the #URC probably went with the loss on Saturday against the Bulls #STOvBUL pic.twitter.com/XkC52ct2eh
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) February 9, 2025
While the next two away local derbies could have a significant impact on their placing in the top eight, the run of games at home towards the end of the season will in all likelihood determine their placing for the play-offs.
John Dobson, Director of Rugby, said their attention will now shift to making the playoffs.
“This team has shown that they are good enough to go and do the job,” Dobson said, about the prospects of the next couple of weeks.
“My gut is that this game was probably the chance for top-four.”
“My gut is that this game was probably the chance for top-four,” Dobson said about the loss to the Bulls.
“I might be wrong because there could be some extraordinary results. But that was never our goal. We would be fine for the top eight, I have no question about that. We’ve shown (on Saturday) that we don’t have to lose again in terms of our league games. We’ll go for it.”
While replacement Clayton Blommetjies missed the final conversion at goal to win the game, the blame can’t only be laid at his door. Starting flyhalf Jurie Matthee missed three kicks at goal, including a penalty from right in front, which could’ve meant more points to the home side.
Director of Rugby John Dobson on the last-gasp Clayton Blommetjies conversion miss #URC #STOvBUL pic.twitter.com/hV4fyGbaBQ
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) February 9, 2025
They are set to be without flyhalf Manie Libbok, who picked up a knee injury against Leinster, for an extended period, and Matthee will be their go-to pivot for the next couple of clashes. Bok rookie Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is also still a few weeks off from returning.
Dobson said Blommetjies was devastated by the missed kick.
“He was very emotional about the kick and that he wasn’t quite ready for that.”
“He was very emotional about the kick and that he wasn’t quite ready for that,” Dobson said.
“It was tough for Blomme. We put him on with five minutes to go which is a horrible feeling for a guy who wants to play rugby. You are in a difficult space, it is not his fault. Suddenly you’re taken from the sideline and being frustrated and (we) throw him in to kick the winning kick, it’s tough. There is no judgment.
““I feel sorry for him.”
“I feel sorry for him.”
Dobson added that they are not expecting any of their frontline players to return for the next two local derbies.
He is confident that the players at his disposal will be able to do the job against the Lions and Bulls in March at Loftus Versfeld in the return North-South derby.
“The pressure is pretty much on for next week in Johannesburg. Playing against the Lions at 2.30pm at Ellis Park, it’s a tough game. That is why this loss was so disappointing. We would’ve felt a bit better with a buffer.”“
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