John Dobson and Deon Fourie have urged the DHL Stormers to embrace the occasion of tackling the Vodacom Bulls at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
The Vodacom Bulls on Friday afternoon confirmed that all tickets for the North-South derby had been sold, with a crowd of around 51 000 set to flood Loftus Versfeld.
The prospect of playing in front of the second-highest crowd for a Vodacom URC single league game adds some heat to what is a crucial game for both teams.
During a press conference on Friday, Dobson said that his pre-game message to the DHL Stormers will simply be to take a moment to embrace the occasion.
“We remember the years when these were the only games in town and the stadium filled up. Often you don’t think that when traditions die, they come back.
“We must just embrace the occasion, look around and see how many striped jerseys there are in the crowd, there will be many, many thousands of them. Think about them.
“Make sure you start properly. You can’t go through that altitude deficit and take your foot off the gas in the first 20 minutes. That’s going to require a bit of sacrifice.
“I think the guys are not daunted for one second, we are actually looking forward to the occasion,” Dobson added. “We are thrilled to be part of it. We have been on top of things with our plans. We worked out what their team was a while ago, so we are well prepared.”
Stormers captain Deon Fourie, who returns to the starting lineup after completing his mandatory rest period, emphasised the importance of the opening 20 minutes of the match.
“From my side, everything picking up again, derby games being sold out, it’s something we haven’t seen for so many years. It’s good for South African rugby, for South Africa and for the guys playing as well,” Fourie said.
“You live for these moments. I told the guys today at captain’s practice, these are the games that you will remember. One day, when you are retired, you will remember playing the Bulls at a sold-out Loftus. That’s the reason we play.
“In derbies, the first 20 minutes are tough,” Fourie added. “It’s helter-skelter, there are a lot of emotions, you feel the crowd, and the stress is building a bit. You just need that first contact to get into the game.
“The team that can handle those first 20 minutes the best and get into their rhythm will have a good game. In all these games, the first 20 minutes are vital and how you respond to what’s happening on the field.”
Taking a big-picture view, Dobson hailed the return of massive crowds to games in South Africa, after the local franchises struggled to sell tickets pre- and post-pandemic.
“I was watching Super Rugby Pacific. When you see those New Zealand derbies, I think compared to where we are, they are in a world of pain. So it’s really important for South African rugby,” Dobson said.
“The Sharks a couple of weeks ago and the Bulls this week have done extraordinary jobs. It’s great for South African rugby and it’s a privilege to be part of it.
“Wearing my Stormers hat, we were a union that was essentially bankrupt and just taken 37 points from the Lions at home a couple of years ago. To be now playing in games like this, with the record we’ve got, is fantastic.
“It’s really good that the Bulls are a really good team. They are six points above us on the log. The Sharks are investing a fortune and promising a turnaround, which I have no doubt will come.
“This is a great thing. The fuller it is, the better. There’s a lot of stake for both teams. This is brilliant for South African rugby.”
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
