'I grew up here' - John Dobson enthuses over Stormers in lead-up to Championship finale

As the build-up to the United Rugby Championship reaches fever pitch, Stormers head coach John Dobson impressed upon reporters on Wednesday just how much the team, and the province means to him.

Elevated to the head coach vacancy in 2020, Dobson has now overseen a successful Stormers team in inter-continental competition for the first time since 2010.

He has, over the past few weeks, ginned up newfound support for the Stormers. Said support was no more evident than when fans were left furious and frustrated that they could not book tickets for the final to be held in the Mother City.

Competition dispenser TicketPro detonated at the volume of traffic generated by fans looking for tickets.

After tickets went live on Tuesday midday, they spent much of Wednesday ploughing through furious emails. They handed out some tickets, but some were left in the lurch.

READ | Dobson urges players to show better 'behaviour' to assuage ref's influence on URC final

Before the emotion set in, Dobson was unequivocal in saying this is his biggest week as a coach.

He's previously coached the Western Province Under-21 side, helping them to victory in the Under-21 Provincial Championship in his first season at the helm and then again in 2013.

As coach of the Vodacom Cup team, he won the competition for the first and only time in the union’s history in 2012.

"Yeah, definitely [is the biggest week of his coaching]. This one is more important than me. It’s important for the people of Cape Town," the always affable Dobson said on Wednesday.

Different mission

The Stormers won 12 of their 18 regular-season matches in the URC, and have the South African Shield to show for it.

His coaching nemesis this weekend is Bulls director of rugby Jake White. A well-travelled