John Dobson stood square in the headlights after the Stormers’ second straight derby defeat to the Sharks, refusing to hide behind excuses as his side were again undone by the same old faults.
The Stormers conceded 16 penalties and two yellow cards in their 38-24 loss in Durban on Saturday, and for Dobson, the most worrying aspect was not the scoreboard but the lack of growth between the two clashes.
Despite all the planning and preparation, the execution never evolved, like a pack scrumming with the same crooked bind and expecting a different outcome.
“We talked about it this week to start the halves well. We probably got both right, but the rest wasn’t a behaviour change from last week. I think the two games were very similar,” said the Stormers coach.
Dobson was quick to acknowledge the Sharks, who bullied their way to a rare Cape Town double over the Stormers, winning the collisions that mattered and dictating terms with ball in hand and boot in air.
“Credit to the Sharks, they beat us properly over the past two weeks. Our discipline was poor and our set-piece definitely let us down. I thought their aerial game was really good and they played with a really clear plan that worked for them.”
Instead of tightening their grip, the Stormers loosened it further. They conceded 17 penalties, two more than the previous week, with the same pressure points once again cracking under strain. Lineouts inside the five-metre zone were squandered, mauls collapsed into penalty concessions, and momentum leaked away like a ball slipping loose in contact.
For Dobson, the frustration cut deeper because the warning signs were already there, yet nothing changed.
“The most frustrating thing about tonight [Saturday] is that everything that went wrong last week went wrong this week. There has to be a behaviour change; it is really poor from us and bad for our supporters.”
Once again, the Stormers’ inability to defend their own tryline proved decisive, as opportunities evaporated and pressure turned inward.
“Five-metre lineouts not converted, giving penalties away at mauls, which led to some of the discipline stuff. So, to fix the stuff, there needs to be a behaviour change. It was really poor from us, and I feel bad for our supporters.”
Dobson also reserved praise for Sharks coach JP Pietersen, whose side played with composure and clarity, striking when the Stormers blinked.
“I give them enormous credit. They’ve come, and they beat us twice. He is obviously doing something right within the organisation. They played with real purpose, a clear plan, so yes, he has done well.”
The aerial contest and discipline ledger again tilted the balance. While the Sharks claimed the high ball like kings of the skies, the Stormers were stuck retreating, forced to defend with one arm tied behind their back.
“We didn’t win the contestable game as much as we would have liked to. They were really good in the air. If you are going to be on 11 penalties in 20 minutes, that’s going to include a card.
“If you are going to play 40 minutes in a South African derby with seven forwards, with Damian Willemse scrumming on the flank a lot of the time, it’s not good enough.”
Stormers captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu echoed his coach’s concerns, cutting a frustrated figure as he pointed to discipline as the moment the match slipped through their fingers.
Defeat in Durban. #SHAvSTO #inittogether @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/Le9d2lntTh
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 31, 2026
“The lack of discipline cost us. When we played our game, we were on top of them. Going into halftime, we were up 24-14, and we just let it slip.
“Within ten minutes, we went from an upbeat team scoring tries. That’s just the reality. We were being reckless, careless and irresponsible. Our discipline is costing us.”
For the Stormers, the message is stark: until discipline becomes instinct rather than instruction, no amount of preparation will stop history from repeating itself.
