Jake White says the South African derby between his Vodacom Bulls and the DHL Stormers - which drew the second biggest crowd of the season in the Vodacom URC - was like a test match.
The visiting Vodacom Bulls came out on top by the narrowest of margins in Cape Town as they won a nine-try thriller 33-32 to strengthen their grip on third spot in the league table and move within two points of second-placed Glasgow Warriors.
“These derbies are what it is all about,” said their head coach White.
“People will talk about this north-south derby for a long, long time. It felt a bit like a test.
“There were moments where it looked like we were going to win and then all a sudden there were times where everyone thought the Stormers were going to win.
“That’s what you want - not as a coach because you get old! - but as a supporter you want to be able to watch a game like that and go ‘Jeez, that’s great entertainment’
“Literally, until the last play of the game, it could have gone the other way.
“The Stormers were never going to go away. They were always going to ask questions that no other team would ask us anywhere. It’s not an easy ride to come here.
“I am very happy that we got a bonus point win.”
The derby clash attracted a crowd of 47 171, a figure only surpassed in the Vodacom URC this season by the 80 468 that watched Leinster Rugby take on Munster Rugby at Croke Park in October.
“I said to the Cape Town people that I really think it’s unbelievable you fill your stadium,” revealed White.
“It just shows how important rugby is and it’s also a compliment to the Bulls.
“If you say this is the big fixture, then at least I know we are doing something right.”
Reflecting further on the occasion, he said: “If you want to be remembered as one of the best players, you have got to play well in the biggest games.
“That was the challenge I gave the group as individuals and as a team - how good will we be in front of a full house in Cape Town?
“Playing in front of a crowd like that can only be a benefit to us. The more our players experience this, the more they feel that pressure, the more they are exposed to this, the better it’s going to be.”
It proved to be a fluctuating contest, with the Vodacom Bulls being outscored by five tries to four, but coming out on top through the boot of centre David Kriel who landed five shots at goal.
LATE DRAMA
There was late drama when the Stormers had the chance to snatch the spoils after flanker Ben-Jason Dixon touched down in the 78th minute, but Clayton Blommetjies was off target with his conversion attempt.
Assessing the game, White said: “It was almost like we got out of jail, but we put ourselves there so many times. It was our own mistakes. There were ten minutes of madness before halftime.
“We tried everything we could to actually lose that game! The fact we got out of it and won is fantastic, but we are going to have to be a little bit more controlled and composed. There were times when we were rushing it too much.”
Giving his thoughts, DHL Stormers coach John Dobson said: “It was a home derby in front of our people and it’s disappointing to lose.
“But I am very proud of the way we fought at the end. We were so imperious in the last 20 or 30 minutes and we were so close to winning it.
“It was a really good performance in lots of ways and we were unlucky to lose.”
The DHL Stormers picked up two bonus points in defeat to move up a couple of places to tenth in the Vodacom URC.
“That’s probably the end of our top four dream. We’ve just got to fight our way into the top eight,” said Dobson.
“It’s going to be tough, but this team will rise. They’ll always find their way back.”
They now face two more all-South African fixtures, with a trip to Johannesburg to take on the Emirates Lions coming up this Saturday followed by the return fixture against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on March 1.
“The next two away derbies are tough,” admitted Dobson.
“That’s why this result is disappointing. If we had won, we would feel a bit better in ourselves and have a bit more of a buffer. Now the pressure is properly on for next weekend at Ellis Park.”