John Dobson says the DHL Stormers will look to make their homecoming count after a defeat to Edinburgh condemned them to one win from three on tour. DYLAN JACK reports.

The DHL Stormers suffered a 38-7 defeat in Edinburgh on Saturday night, as the hosts cruised to their first win of the season.

Having bounced back from a loss to Ospreys in Bridgend with a bonus-point win in Parma, the Stormers will return to South Africa with five points from their season-opening three-match tour.

Speaking after the game in Edinburgh, Dobson said that while frustrated with a second loss of the campaign, the Stormers are confident of finding their footing at home.

“The next two games are important,” Dobson said. “We’ve got the 2023 champions Munster and last year’s champions Glasgow Warriors. If we can get our fizz back at home, we will be ok for the rest of the season.

“While we only got one win from three on tour, it doesn’t feel like last season. The key for us is the next two home games. If we can get those next two, we will be alive and kicking. There is a little bit of pressure in that respect, but it doesn’t feel like last year.”

While the Stormers were only seven points down at the break after Ruhan Nel’s try, an error-prone and ill-disciplined first half allowed Edinburgh to capitalise and streak to a bonus-point victory.

“We made too many mistakes,” Dobson said. “We got into chase mode and that hurt us. We were under pressure at the start. There was one period just before their first try where we conceded five penalties in a row. Our discipline put us under pressure,” Dobson said.

“After Edinburgh’s second try, I thought we were good for a long period. I was confident at half time. But when the score got to 21-7, we really started chasing and that’s where we were at our poorest. We got frustrated. We have to take responsibility.”

Dobson added that there was some frustration in the Stormers camp with the performance of referee Ben Whitehouse.

“We gave away some penalties that we going to have to look at to understand, especially at scrum time,” Dobson said.

“I don’t understand how we didn’t get scrum advantages before half time. I could go on, but I will keep it in-house.”

Photo: Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock 

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