The Stormers, revelling in Dobson's freedom of expression, chase URC finale

On Saturday, the Stormers have an opportunity to book themselves into an inter-continental competition final for the first time since 2010.

By the time they kickoff their United Rugby Championship (URC) playoff game against Ulster in Cape Town, they will know who the first finalists are (either Leinster or Bulls).

The sensational return of Damian Willemse for the Stormers is the headline grabbing story, which is just as well because he’s been an effective player in the Capetonians’ structure.

It’s given them a timely boost for such an important game. Just last week it was announced he’d been ruled out for a lengthy period, but has returned to pick up where he left off at inside centre.

Head coach John Dobson has often admitted that the style of rugby they have employed is high risk, high reward and to allow that to flourish, he, together with his coaching staff, have given players carte blanche on the field.

His thinking is that the players on the pitch have a perspective they [coaches] don’t have and have since made no fuss over sending back messages to the field when the ball doesn’t bounce kindly. 

The Stormers are chasing ten wins on the bounce, and more importantly, a spot in the inaugural URC final.

For their part, the players have given not only the team, but themselves, a good name:

It is a captivating mix of, as the youth say, "ballers" and bruisers. 

Given the representation in key performance data, the compelling rugby seen can be chalked down to how players have taken to their freedom from management. To clip the wings of his technically adept players wouldn't be wise, as Dobson stressed.

"As coaches we have had to have maturity to realise that you can’t have personnel (like a Warrick Gelant for example), who has