John Dobson defends Stormers URC quarter-final defeat

The Western Cape franchise suffered a 36-18 loss at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on Friday evening, falling at the same hurdle and to the same opponent as they did in last season’s last eight.

Dobson felt the hosts’ defence was too strong on the day, with the South Africans’ only downfall being their “plethora of mistakes.”

"I thought we fought, I couldn't sit in the change room and complain about the efforts. I think the way – after their last try, in the last half hour, we were playing in their 22, we were just playing very poorly," said Dobson.

"They put us under a lot of pressure, I thought physically they defended really well, we weren't getting any denting or yardage in our carrying.

"I don't think effort or fight was absent, I think a plethora of mistakes [were to blame], and massive credit to Glasgow for their defence, which I thought was excellent, and obviously, they were really – as we knew – really good with ball in hand."

Dobson had hoped a tightened defensive plan would help snap a four-match losing streak against Glasgow, but the Warriors’ attacking brilliance proved too much to contain.

"We thought they would try and get around us, so we wanted to go up and out, but I think the way they played those short inside balls was very clever, and we were found wanting," he added.

"Also, it doesn't help if you kick like we kicked – you're kicking long, distant contestables that are going towards the midfield side of their 15m, against their backs, it's very hard to defend.

"So it was poor, and we conceded a try just after we scored, the holding penalty on Suleiman and they scored from that with a maul, and then we went with an open-side contestable, which wasn't the plan, after Seabelo's try and they scored under the poles."

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