Stromers embarrassed by ‘terrible’ win; DHL Stormers boss John Dobson was left with mixed emotions after his side’s 44-21 win over Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade.
On the one hand, this is their first league win outside South Africa this season, where picking up the most points boosts their playoff chances.
But given the overall display, he was deeply disappointed, with his team trailing 21-16 after just 15 minutes of play.
“I am really unhappy. It was an unfortunate performance,” he said.
“But I saw how amazing the pressure was on the Dragons and how poor we were.
It was a miserable performance’ – Stromers embarrassed by ‘terrible’ win.
“We were terrified, but I had a funny feeling it was caused by dragons.
Dragons were beautiful. They had the territory, the possession, the crowd got behind them. The noise was something else.
“For a team with nothing to play for, this is a remarkable achievement. There is real pride in that team. They didn’t deserve 44-21.”
The Dragons led 11-10 at the break with a try from flanker Harry Keady and went back in front just before the hour mark when the outstanding Wales number 8 Aaron Wainwright stretched towards the line.
“When they were roaring up 21-16 and that song was going down, we thought there was only one winner,” Dobson said.
“So credit to us for getting out of it.”
It was a miserable performance’ – Stromers embarrassed by ‘terrible’ win.
Crucially, the Stormers came out on top in a scrum in the final quarter, where Dragons prop Rodrigo Martinez received a yellow card and they capitalized with four tries in the final 15 minutes, with substitute Sacha Feinberg-Mongomezulu adding a late double with Angelo Davide. . . . . . . . . . ‘ Previous parenthesis.
“I thought in the last ten minutes, you see what we can do when the game starts,” Dobson said.
“If we had lost, our season would have been over.
It was a miserable performance’ – Stromers embarrassed by ‘terrible’ win.
“We are fighting for our lives and we are almost finished.
“I’ve got really mixed emotions. We got the points, but we have to be better.
“We got away with one there too.”
Of the whole experience of visiting Newport, Dobson said: “I absolutely loved it.
They are such good people here at Dragon.
“Just the name Rodney Parade evokes so much.
“Growing up, I knew what Newport was. It’s something that takes you back to the old times, the atmosphere, the people in a beautiful way and I hope it goes from strength to strength.
e tonight.”
The Stormers now travel to Galway to take on play-off rivals Connacht before finishing the regular season by hosting the Lions in Cape Town.
“I think one more win will take us into the top eight,” said director of rugby Dobson.
“I think the loss to the Ospreys put us out of the home quarter.
“We’re going somewhere bad later.”
Responding to Dobson’s warm words, Dragons coach Dai Flanagan said: “Everyone picks their full strength team when they come to the parade and there’s no coincidence behind that.
“It’s because of our fans and how uncomfortable we’ve made it for outside teams and it can last longer.
“This crowd is incredible, how they have stuck with us through the hardships of the season, understanding that there have been huge financial cuts to Welsh rugby and they will happen again next year.
“It’s been a season where they probably couldn’t have stuck with us. They run us very well and we have to give it back to them.”
Ahead of the game against the Stormers, he said: “For 65 minutes, we really executed what we said during the week.
“If we can do it physically for 65 years, why can’t we do it for 75, 80 years? But, losing is a habit, just like winning is a habit. We have to turn the tide.”
It was a miserable performance’ – Stromers embarrassed by ‘terrible’ win.
The Dragons now travel to Swansea to take on the Ospreys next weekend before finishing their campaign with a Judgment Day clash with the Scarlets at Cardiff City Stadium.
“It’s great for us – two derbies. What a way to end the season,” Flanagan said.
It was a miserable performance’ – Stromers embarrassed by ‘terrible’ win.
“We have nothing to lose and this is an opportunity to express ourselves.”