DHL Stormers director of rugby was a concerned man when rumours started circulating at the end of last season that the South African administration might be thinking of reviewing the country’s participation in the Investec Champions Cup and he knows the best way to respond.
At first when stories emerged on overseas platforms that the top brass were reconsidering their commitment to Europe and the EPCR competitions they were shot down at home. SARU president Mark Alexander had said at a press conference that “competitions would be reviewed” at an off-season meeting, and it led to an assumption he was referring to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
SARU subsequently put out a statement clarifying what had been said and denying that the participation in the competitions that fall under the authority of EPCR was under threat, but top figures within the local clubs believe there was some fire to go with the smoke.
Dobson is adamant that his club and South African rugby generally can’t do without the Champions Cup, with the Stormers set to start their campaign in the latest edition of the competition rated by many as the top club rugby competition in the world against Bristol Bears in Cape Town on Saturday.
Dobson has rotated his front row as he fits this game into a sequence of the season that includes one Championship game in between important Vodacom URC games against the Sharks and then the Scarlets and Ulster before the November international break.
BEST WAY TO SAFEGUARD PARTICIPATION IS TO WIN
But the Stormers have such depth in the front row that the change can hardly be seen as a significant weakening of the team, which is overall a strong one and underlines Dobson’s desire for his team to go all out in their quest to safeguard the SA participation in Europe by doing what always matters most - winning.
“We need a South African team to make a semifinal or even a final this season,” said Dobson.
“From our side we want the participation in the Champions Cup to continue and we want to respect the competition, and the best way to make that point is to do well in it. I think our inventory for the public here in Cape Town would look poorer without these (Champions Cup) games and without our participation.
“It is a prestigious competition and we want to test ourselves against the best (club) teams in the world. We want to be at the top table of world club rugby, so we’re desperate to stay part of it,” he added.
EDUCATION AROUND CHAMPIONS CUP STILL ONGOING
Dobson acknowledged that the Champions Cup doesn’t appear to be catching on with the South African public to the extent that it should but he said there are reasons for that.
“The Champions Cup is a year behind the URC with the South African public,” he explained.
“People now know who the Ospreys are (after playing against them over five URC seasons), but this will be the first time we’ve ever played against Bristol. We’ve never played Bordeaux before (champions Bordeaux Begles will be the next opponents in France in December).
"So there’s a constant education piece still happening and still needed around this tournament.”
It was his desire to bolster the occasion of the first home EPCR game of the season and get a maximum crowd to the DHL Stadium that prompted Dobson to take the extraordinary step of announcing his team four days ahead of the game. The Champions Cup rules stipulate that the announcements can be made as late as the Friday afternoon before a Saturday game.
“It’s not like we are trying to copy the Springboks, who announce early to get it out of the way and to let their opponents know they are comfortable with what they have, which is a good strategy.
"Rather we have announced early to help create a buzz and drum up interest, we want to respect the fans by letting them know who is playing in this game.
“It will make a difference to people who are deciding what to do on Saturday afternoon to know that if they come to watch us they will be seeing players like Deon Fourie, Siya Kolisi and Ruhan Nel in action. Doing it early is more considerate to the public.”