For John Dobson, flame of North-South derby still burns: 'It's great to have these rivalries'

With the 2021/22 United Rugby Championship (URC) reaching its crescendo this weekend, Stormers head coach John Dobson said a North-South final is "good for South African rugby".

The last time the two teams contested a cross-hemisphere showpiece final was a Super 14 showdown in 2010 where the Bulls won 25-17.

There is no shortage of history between the two teams and Dobson was more than happy to ramp up the enormity of the occasion.

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Already this season, Dobson’s charges have beaten the Bulls and have a final opportunity to seal it with the URC trophy come late evening on Saturday.

"I should talk it down… but it’s good for South African rugby," Dobson told reporters on Wednesday.

He said loose-forward Deon Fourie, who will play in his 100th game for the Stormers on Saturday, talked to players about the rivalry and the passion of the occasion.

Fourie played in that 2010 final at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

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Dobson gave away that he’s devoted some time this week to regaling players of the history of this derby, while his forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, he revealed, gave a fervid speech to players.

"It’s great for rugby that we have these rivalries. We must not wash them down as another game and that comes from the players as well.

"Stormers-Bulls, it’s part of our fibre."

Both finalists, it’s been widely reported, would never have been given a chance to reach this juncture during the early stages of the competition.

They earned their spot by beating two staunch Irish teams.

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