Bold claim: Dobson’s smart management has put the Stormers in a prime position for both the Champions Cup and URC playoffs.
OPINION: John Dobson’s decision to rotate through 40 players across the first eight games of the season is paying off, strengthening the Stormers as they head toward the business end of the year.
Starting the 2025/26 campaign, few would have predicted that the Stormers would top their Champions Cup pool and lead the URC table by mid-December. Yet that’s exactly where they stand.
The team has rattled off six straight URC wins and closed the opening block of Champions Cup pool matches with nine of a possible ten log points. It’s notable that this eight-game winning run includes five away fixtures, plus a triumph at La Rochelle in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) this past Saturday, bringing their total to six road wins outside Cape Town.
Even in the toughest stretch of both competitions, the Stormers have emerged with a flawless record.
The numbers reflect a more balanced style of play, with a higher conversion of chances into tries, points, and victories. Yet, the focus isn’t on trophies right now; the emphasis is on laying a foundation for a serious push to finish in the top two of the URC and to host at least one Champions Cup playoff game. Of the 14 remaining regular-season matches, 11 are in South Africa, with up to eight in Cape Town, a clear domestic advantage the Stormers are well-positioned to exploit.
Perhaps the most striking part of this run is that they have kept their momentum even when Bok players and other senior figures were unavailable. Discussions around Rassie Erasmus’ national rotation policy—where 50 players featured in 2025 Test season—contrast with Dobson’s approach: eight games into the season, he has used 40 players.
Young talents like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach have shone, though they’ve started only three and one match respectively, underscoring the rotation strategy at work. Dobson has mixed regulars with youngsters and fringe players, giving opportunities across the squad. Recently contracted players such as Clinton Swart (Pumas) and Dylan Maart (Griquas) have slotted in smoothly, with Swart contributing 16 points in a notable Bayonne win and Maart crossing for two tries in the La Rochelle win.
Position-by-position, the rotation is evident: three different fullbacks, four wings, three outside centers, four inside centers, three fly-halves, four scrum-halves, two No.8s, two blindside flankers, two openside flankers, three at lock, three at prop, one hooker, and three looseheads.
The Stormers’ “Bomb Squad” philosophy has been central to their success, with Dobson frequently adjusting the lineup on a near-weekly basis. Although the team has favored a six-two forwards-to-backs split for eight straight weeks, there have been five instances of an extra loose forward and three instances of an extra lock when needed. The choice between Wandisile Simelane or Clinton Swart as the utility back has also reshaped the bench dynamics.
Over the eight weeks, 40 players have worn the match-day jersey, with at least one fresh face in every lineup except the La Rochelle clash. Injuries and Bok call-ups have influenced choices, but Dobson deserves credit for balancing immediate needs with longer-term development.
In terms of game minutes, the Stormers remain comparatively fresh for this stage of the season. A back-row trio of Paul de Villiers, BJ Dixon, and Evan Roos has started five times, while Leolin Zas has appeared in every match. Elsewhere, the rotation principle has been constant.
There are clear advantages and drawbacks to such rotation, but the results indicate the Stormers have struck the right balance. Importantly, they should stay with this approach through the most demanding period of the season—when many clubs face long stretches of 10 consecutive matches between late November and late January—and keep the bulk of their squad rested for the Champions Cup and URC playoffs.
Dobson will insist the team maintains focus through this heavy period. It wouldn’t be a disaster if a game or two is dropped during this rotation window, but that’s not the case for several other South African teams. The Lions, Bulls, and Sharks are currently positioned further down the URC table and face real risks to their playoff hopes and European progress.
Compared with this time last year, when the Stormers had an unsustainable start—losing six of eight—optimism is more grounded now. Last season’s early struggles in the Champions Cup and the URC’s late scramble to reach the quarterfinals have given way to a more robust, plan-driven approach.
Today, there are tangible reasons for optimism. The last eight matches have been solid across both competitions, and Dobson’s resource management has helped the Stormers arrive at the season’s critical juncture in solid shape. They may not have a trophy yet, but they’re South African rugby’s strongest title contender at this moment, with momentum, depth, and a clear path to a deep run in both major tournaments.
