The Stormers handed away what should have been a commanding position at the top of the URC log by surrendering two 10-point leads against Connacht at home — a team that had never previously won in the Cape. That result flipped the script entirely: instead of sitting pretty and watching Glasgow scramble, the Stormers now need to beat their bogey side just to stay in contention. The piece notes that Glasgow haven't lost to the Stormers since Franco Smith took charge, including two comfortable quarterfinal wins at Scotstoun — and a win in Stellenbosch as recently as October 2024. Dobson has acknowledged it himself.
The broader log picture makes Saturday's Cape Town clash less than decisive. Leinster's win over Ulster means a Stormers victory without a bonus point — and without denying Glasgow a losing bonus — could still see Leinster leapfrog both. Ulster also emerge as potential kingmakers, with home games against both the Stormers and Glasgow still to come. The Lions remain live contenders after demolishing Glasgow, but face Connacht next — a team riding their own momentum. The Bulls are quietly well-placed with a soft run-in, while the Sharks' top-eight hopes are mathematically alive but practically dependent on a near-total collapse from the teams above them.