Cape Town - Stormers coach John Dobson wants “to keep Cape Town smiling” by overcoming traditional rivals, the Bulls, in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The Stormers have re-energised the city over the past few weeks with an enthralling home run that has seen them win 10 matches on the trot, including last weekend’s thrilling last-minute semi-final victory over Ireland’s Ulster.
The victory set up a classic “North-South” derby after the Bulls had earlier dethroned defending champions Leinster in Dublin. Saturday’s kickoff is at 7:30pm.
“The final is important because of how meaningful it is,” Dobson told reporters this week in the build-up to the grand match.
“This is not about me, it is about the region and the rugby supporters and stakeholders in the region, the Stormers brand, and keeping Cape Town smiling, which has been one of the motivators for our entire campaign.”
Dobson could not stress the point enough of what it means to him and his players in facing the old adversaries from Pretoria.
The Stormers have only played in a single previous international club final when they lost to the Bulls in Soweto back in 2010 in the former Super Rugby competition.
“We mustn’t dumb the rivalry down. The Stormers against the Bulls is the cherry on the top, it has always been the big game of the season, and having a trophy to play for is just the cherry on the top. The Stormers versus the Bulls is part of our fibre,” he said.
“The pride in that game means so much for us. The trophy is almost incidental in this case. Neither team would like to see the other team lift the trophy, but it feels like a normal derby to us, a proper bragging-rights South African derby. It would be different if we were playing Leinster or something like that. There is just so much history in this rivalry.”
The Stormers have suffered one major injury blow leading up to the final with the tournament’s top-try scorer Leolin Zas being ruled out through injury. He will be replaced by veteran wing Sergeal Petersen, who Dobson believes still has the “X-factor” to enthral the Stormers faithful.
“Zassy is physical and an out and out striker, and we need that from a wing, but Sergeal brings a bit of difference. Sergeal also has the odd bit of X-factor brilliance too and can’t be underestimated as an attacking force,” he said.
For the Bulls, the extra motivation will come from the fact that they lost home and away to the Capetonians this season.
Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee said this week: “It’s not so much revenge ... It’s a final, so it’s going to be personal on both fronts. It’s a completely new game on the day – anything can happen, and I said it for last week’s Leinster game as well: it’s 50-50 on the day. We will address that with the humility and respect that it deserves. It's phenomenal that there are two (SA) sides in the final, and it’s good for South African rugby.”
Meanwhile the City said about 31 000 spectators were expected and will avail a free MyCiTi shuttle service for ticket holders to travel to the DHL Stadium.
Buses will depart from the Civic Centre and Thibault Square stations from 3.30pm on Saturday. The last return bus will leave the Stadium station at 11pm.
Parking is limited in the stadium precinct, therefore the City would also like to encourage rugby fans to make use of a park and ride system.
Premier Alan Winde said: “While I will certainly be cheering on the Stormers this weekend, I am deeply concerned that an event such as this, which creates significant economic activity in our province, is not able to operate at its full capacity. It is high time that we do away with all Covid-19 restrictions as they serve only to undermine our hospitality and tourism sectors and derail private sector-led job creation.”
Cape Times