Stormers boss John Dobson left frustrated by Ospreys loss

Dobson said that there are areas that require improvement are clear as they face another big challenge in Italy this weekend.

The Stormers were edged 37-24 by the Ospreys in a hard-fought encounter in Bridgend. Flyhalf Jurie Matthee kicked 11 points for the visitors while left wing Leolin Zas and lock JD Schickerling crossed the tryline either side of halftime at the Dunraven Brewery Field.

The clash was the Stormers' opening match of the fourth URC season, and they will next face Zebre Parma at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday, before concluding their three-match tour in Edinburgh.

"It's weird, because it is a similar outcome as the start of last season's URC tour, but I feel better about this," he told the Stomers website.

"A lot of the aspects of our game we are working on was there. There were some nice performances from a number of players. The Ospreys were really good in the second half. They scored off a great strike move from the line-out. But there are still some really good signs for us. We really wanted to win though, so it is disappointing."

However, Dobson was impressed with the growth and development of Matthee at pivot.

"He is still a developing flyhalf," he continued.

"I don't think we exited as well as we could have, yet Jurie was solid. It was a tough outing overall but he's got potential and a nice temperament."

For Zebre Parma this week, Dobson revealed that there will be some personnel changes.

"Sazi Sandi and Warrick Gelant will come back in," he said.

"If you look at the Ospreys game and where we can remedy it, it is through team selection. Our lineouts were excellent, 100 percent, but we lost a few contestable kicks and we struggled a bit in that department."

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