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Stormers v Cheetahs at Newlands (Gallo)
- The Stormers almost certainly played their last game at Newlands.
- Coach John Dobson has described the atmosphere “haunting” on the field.
- However, Western Province still has games to play at the iconic venue.
Ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season earlier in the year, the Stormers He knew this would almost certainly be his last season on New lands before moving to Cape Town Stadium in 2021.
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Skipper Siya Kolisi said at the time that players would use it as motivation to give a fitting send-off to one of the most iconic places in rugby world history.
Those plans were obviously thwarted by the coronavirus and on Saturday night the Stormers played what will likely be their last game in Newlands in front of an empty house.
Western Province will still play matches at the venue in 2020 and early 2021, but that will be with its blue and white hoops and under the Currie Cup banner.
The Stormers, however, were done.
The hosts ran out of comfort 30-13 winners, but this was not the ‘goodbye’ that coach John Dobson or the players would have had in mind.
“It’s creepy,” Dobson said of the venue being empty when he spoke after the game.
“I am very sorry for the players. We have to generate our own energy, and I think they did very well.”
“It’s terrible … you score a try and it’s absolutely silent. It’s difficult for the players right now.
“The lack of an audience obviously doesn’t make it appropriate, but it was a very physical game, so for us to win against such a strong and desperate team was good.
“It was a decent performance and we scored some really good attempts against a strong opponent, so it was probably a good way to say ‘goodbye.’ Anything else would be complaining.
“It was the best we could do under the circumstances.”
– Compiled by Lloyd Burnard
