Dobson calls for grit against lung-busting Emirates Lions

John Dobsonhas warned that status will count for naught when the DHL Stormers blow intoJohannesburg on Saturday to hunt down an Emirates Lions team primed to drag thereigning Vodacom URC SA Shield champions to “dark places”.

"Going up tothe Highveld in week one is about as tough as we can have, and we're very awarethat this season is not going to be anything like the ride we had last year,”said the DHL Stormers coach.

South Africa’s flagbearers in both of the past two seasons, the DHL Stormers, clinched the 2021-22 Vodacom United Rugby Championship title and fell one win short of backing it up in 2022-23 as Munster upset thehosts in the Cape Town final.

No fewer than 15points separated the DHL Stormers from their closest SA rival, the VodacomBulls, last season, as Dobson’s team went unbeaten in local derbies.

However, a newseason brings with it new challenges and the DHL Stormers begin their thirdcampaign with a perilous trip to the Lions Den, the historic ground of EmiratesAirline Park.

The “City of Gold”poses a unique obstacle that cannot be underestimated – built on the easternplateau of South Africa’s Highveld at an altitude of 1750 metres,Johannesburg’s low oxygen levels pose a serious challenge to the lungs ofvisiting players not acclimatised to the city's thin air.

The Emirates Lionsmay be SA’s perennial underdogs, but they play with an insatiable hunger athome, running opponents off their feet to exploit the Highveld factor.

"The EmiratesLions have been very tough at home,” said Dobson. “They've tended tostart competitions well.

“They'll have a lotof energy after pre-season and will back themselves to get away from us at theend of the game, given the altitude and the importance they've placed on their conditioning,so we're going to have to show some character.”

Last season saw theEmirates Lions make a terrific start, winning four of their opening sixmatches, including a three-win streak on the road against Ospreys, Cardiff andEdinburgh.

It is this kind ofform that prompted Dobson to prime his charges for what to expect from the Vodacom URC's wildcats.

“They are a teamthat uses the conditions and the environment to their advantage, and they relyon teams to fade away in minutes 60 to 80 at Emirates Airline Park. This iswhen we've got to show our character.”

Adding to the DHLStormers’ challenge is that they are without a quartet of stars on Springbokduty at the World Cup – namely Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse, Deon Fourie andFrans Malherbe.

In contrast, theEmirates Lions are at full strength, none of their players having been calledup to the national squad, and they are consequently in a position to maximisetheir continuity.

Dobson is wary ofthe challenge but believes there’s an inherent opportunity for growth.

“We may not be atwhat people regard as full strength, through a couple of injuries and some guysin France, but we see this as a helluva opportunity for some young players andnew players to experience this.

“If you want toretain the SA Shield, you're going to have to go to some dark places against SAopposition, and that’s what we’re faced with this week."