The DHL Stormers can look to Munster’s unbelievable journey to the 2022-23 Vodacom URC title for inspiration as they embark on a visit to Glasgow trying to win a primary playoff on the highway.
It’s battle week because the contenders for 2023-24 URC title weigh in for the primary spherical of the playoffs the place the Stormers will start their most difficult playoff run but, starting with a quarter-final bout in opposition to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday night time.
The conflict at Scotstoun Stadium shall be a primary URC away quarter-final for the Stormers, who’ve loved a house run at Cape City Stadium via the playoffs over the previous two seasons.
Stepping away from dwelling comforts might include some trepidation for John Dobson’s aspect, who’ve skilled their justifiable share of struggles on tour within the championship.
Nonetheless, the Stormers want solely look to final season’s Grand Ultimate nemesis, Munster, as proof that the gravel highway can result in a pot of gold.
Lacking a bunch of key gamers, Munster began the 2022-23 season with 4 losses on the highway, a run that included a shock defeat to Wales’ Dragons and a derby loss to rivals Leinster.
Nonetheless, boosted by a mid-season pleasant victory in opposition to a South Africa XV in Cork in November 2022, Munster set about reaching the outstanding.
Beginning with a 38-17 victory in Edinburgh, Graham Rowntree’s expenses went on a run of eight successive away wins, alongside the way in which turning into the primary northern hemisphere crew to win at Cape City Stadium within the penultimate spherical of the event, repeating the feat in a nail-biting grand ultimate in Cape City.
Equally, the Stormers have battled on the highway this season. A run of 4 defeats from 4 video games, together with a 20-9 loss in Glasgow, on their season-opening tour in November put Dobson’s aspect up in opposition to it from the off.
The Champions Cup allowed the Stormers to rebuild some confidence, as an overhauled matchday squad pushed a star-studded Leicester Tigers to the brink, earlier than the Capetonians shrugged off ice-cold situations to beat High 14 challengers, Stade Francais in Paris.
Nonetheless, the Stormers actually grew of their perception once they ran in seven tries to beat Northampton Saints in an entertaining exhibition at Franklin’s Gardens. Constructing on that victory, they claimed a vital 9 log factors from their most up-to-date mini-tour in opposition to Dragons RFC and Connacht, sealing a spot within the play-offs by doing so.
“We’re taking some confidence from how we’ve got fought our method right here,” Dobson mentioned.
“These two wins in opposition to Dragons and Connacht, we did nicely at Leicester and in Paris in opposition to Stade, in addition to the pleasant at Northampton. So there’s confidence about that.
“Saying that we’ve got to be sincere and admit that Connacht and Dragons aren’t within the URC playoffs and Glasgow have been near topping the desk all through this season. So it’s going to want a step up from us.
“However simply the truth that being away and enjoying on a 4G pitch aren’t elements for us anymore, is nice. We’re feeling way more assured.
“There’s one other issue, which is one thing the northern hemisphere groups expertise once they come down right here. There’s an enormous distinction between enjoying Glasgow in the course of January and the center of June. That’s one thing that may give us a bit extra confidence.”
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Dobson sees the chance in travelling for a play-off and says that having to claw their method up the desk has made the squad really feel like they should be a part of it.
“If we have a look at the undertaking and the place we have been, we’re fairly happy to be within the playoffs and keep within the Champions Cup subsequent season,” Dobson mentioned.
“We might like to play at Cape City Stadium, however for this crew to actually progress and turn into what we wish to, we’ve got to win these video games on the highway.
“In a humorous method, I’m welcoming it. It’s good for us. Satirically, we’ve gone 12 from 18 in all three years. Our win ratio is precisely the identical.
“Since we acquired again from that early season tour, I mentioned to the crew, it appears like we’ve got had a knife to our throat for a big a part of the season. That provides strain. The truth that we punched via that to complete fifth is nice.
“It appears like there is a chance right here, slightly than a menace. I don’t really feel like we’re below huge strain. We’re enthusiastic about going abroad for just a few weeks.”
The Stormers’ playoff journey is ready to be a check of their resilience and talent to thrive below strain. Emulating Munster’s run to glory won’t be simple, however with their current performances, the Cape contenders have proven they’re able to rising to the event and bringing the battle when it issues most.
Photograph: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
