The Stormers put their European campaign back on track with a 40-0 whitewash of Sale Sharks, but Director of Rugby John Dobson took a cautious post-match tone.
The Cape Town franchise scored six unanswered tries and collected a full house of five points to move past Sale and Racing 92 into the top four of the Champions Cup’s Pool Four.
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok scored 13 points for the hosts in Cape Town to keep their hopes of a last 16 place alive after losing their opening two games.
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It is their third successive win – following two victories against the Lions and Sharks in the United Rugby Championship.
A trip to Paris next week for a Round Four encounter with Racing 92 could seal their spot in the playoffs.
Dobson called for “some perspective”, pointing out that it is their first win in Europe – having lost to Toulon and Harlequins in the opening rounds.
“We have to think what next week could spit out,” Dobson said.
He made it clear that their priority is the United Rugby Championship, where they have managed to work themselves into a strong position – within one point of a top-eight spot.
(WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson cautions against excessive rejoicing after a 40-0 whitewash of the Sale Sharks….)
Their two domestic derby wins in December have them in 10th spot with 21 points – behind Scarlets (sixth place, 23 points), Benetton (seventh, 23), Edinburgh (eight, 22) and Ulster (ninth, 22).
“Our day job is very much the URC,” the Stormers boss said.
“I don’t want the euphoria or thinking this is our season-crowning [performance],” he said of their most impressive performance for some time – certainly this season.
“We are one from three in this tournament – a different tournament [to the URC] – so we have to be careful [about our celebrations].”
Dobson added that he will give it a full go in Paris next week and against Leinster in the URC the week thereafter.
That is why they will take a powerful, full-strength 28-man squad on the two-trip to Europe.
“We have to go for it next week,” the Stormers boss said, adding: “We might have to look at some players who have had high workloads.
“We are either playing for a place in the last 16 [at top four finish in the pool] or the Challenge Cup [fifth place in the pool].
“We pride ourselves in that we have made the playoffs in every competition we played in.
“Maybe there will be a four or five guys manipulation.”
He pointed out that they will still get players like Seabelo Senatla, Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ruhan Nel and Dan du Plessis.
“That means the project is growing,” he said.
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