Stormers director of Rugby John Dobson has taken personal responsibility and apologised to the Cape rugby public for Western Province’s Currie Cup performance.
Stormers director of Rugby John Dobson has taken personal responsibility and apologised to the Cape rugby public for Western Province’s Currie Cup performance.
We want to apologise to our loyal fans of the blue and white hoops for how things are going on the field. We knew we would take some pain as part of our reboot, but I take full responsibility for how things have gone.”
WP are languishing in last place on the Currie Cup table with one more round to go, and are guaranteed the wooden spoon regardless of the result.
Dobson explained what the rationale is behind fielding mostly club, Varsity Cup, Junior Boks and sevens players in this year’s campaign.
“We had a plan to reboot this squad and we knew we would have a tough Currie Cup which is why we tried to reinforce it where we could. It’s part of the greater plan to reboot the whole shape of the Stormers for our long-term project. It’s not good for our brand and where we want to be.”
WP’s final challenge is a Cape derby against the high-flying Boland Cavaliers, who are firm favourites to go all the way in the competition.
Dobson says it’ll be special to have a Cape derby again after so many years.
“Credit to Boland for what they’ve done there. I have a lot of respect for Hawies [Fourie] and the work he does there and they’ve been brilliant. It’s Province-Boland, and we’ll step up in that respect.”
After Saturday’s 39-13 loss to the Pumas at Cape Town Stadium, WP coach Labeeb Levy hinted that some of the Vodacom URC players would be released to help WP get the win over the Cavaliers. Dobson eluded to the same, but didn’t want to be drawn on who the players would be, or how many of them would feature.
“A couple of guys will join for the Boland clash. It [the squad] will look a little bit different.”
WP host a Boland side who have lost just two of their six matches in the competition so far and who are intent on hosting a semi-final at their fortress in Wellington.
