The Stormers, under Dobson's leadership, have their sights set on surpassing last season's achievement where they reached the round of 16. A painful narrow defeat to Toulon quashed their previous campaign. Now, with three wins out of four games last season, Dobson emphasizes the importance of securing a home fixture for the last 16 to avoid the pitfalls of away games.
"I'll choose the best team to beat Bristol. I don’t even want the Bordeaux game to be a weakened team. It has to be this [team on Saturday], what I’m talking about now, that sort of mix. The Champions Cup home game against Bristol, absolutely must-win if we want to get out of the pool,"
Dobson has also been strategic in his squad rotation, bringing back seven Springboks, including the powerhouse Wilco Louw, for the previous game against the Sharks. Yet, he hinted at a possible change at prop for the upcoming match. Bristol's dynamic style under Pat Lam requires a mobile team, indicating that Louw might not be the best fit for this encounter.
'We made a lot of changes this week. Luckily, it worked out [but] we’re not going to push that day and night switch,' Dobson added, acknowledging the delicate balance required in team selection to maintain competitive momentum.
The Stormers' schedule post-Bristol includes challenging away games against reigning champions Bordeaux Bègles and Gloucester, followed by a crucial home game against Racing 92. The strategic use of his player resources during this period will be pivotal for Dobson, who is keen to have his best players available through to the end of January without overstretching them.
Moreover, the Stormers anticipate full availability of their Boks players until the URC match against Ulster on October 31, thanks to the Nations Championship wrapping up in November. This strategic planning will be crucial in maintaining the squad's stamina and readiness as they navigate through both the URC and Champions Cup fixtures.
As the Stormers gear up for their high-stakes match against Bristol, all eyes will be on Dobson's selection and tactical decisions that could set the tone for their Champions Cup campaign this season.
