The URC posted a clip of the celebrations on their social media channels before deleting.
It was less than an hour after Munster had closed out against Leinster to reach the United Rugby Championship final when my phone pinged with a video of some Stormers celebrations in Cape Town. By the end of the night, it had been shared in four of my different WhatsApp groups.
The video was posted from DHL Stadium and featured Stormers players, staff and fans counting down the end of Munster’s win over Leinster, then going buck mad when the final whistle blew.
Stormers coach John Dobson was part of those post-match scenes, in a corporate box, along with players Neethling Fouchie, Joseph Dweba and Hacjivah Dayimani. Also in the video were injured hooker Deon Fourie and Stormers and Springboks legend Schalk Burger.
The video received some blow-back from rugby fans that looked at the scenes as somewhat disrespectful to Munster. While Munster may use the clip as fuel, there was a much bigger reason why the South Africans were going so wild. That video has since been deleted, but here is a small taste of the joyous scenes:
“It’s a little bit emotional, to be honest” – Stormers coach
Sure, there would have been a huge sense of relief about not having to travel to Dublin to face a Leinster XV stacked with Grand Slam winners. Another part – missed by many – was that Stormers knew they would have another home final.
As the highest ranking seed left in the competition, they get to host Munster in Cape Town on May 24th. It provides last year’s champions with their best chance of retaining their URC title.
Following his side’s 43-25 victory over Connacht, in Saturday’s other semi-final, Stormers coach John Dodson pointed out how the extra revenue from a home final would be a massive boost.
“It’s a little bit emotional, to be honest,” he told SA Rugby Mag. “Our big fear, like I have said, was to prove that we belong and that it wasn’t a fluke. If you said we were going to the final this season…
“The only reason we want to play the final in Cape Town is for the people and the revenue… We want to do something very special in two week’s time.”
WATCH HOUSE OF RUGBY HERE:
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