Suleiman Hartzenberg to hit 50 for Stormers against Cardiff
Stormers utility back Suleiman Hartzenberg between fellow backs Ben Loader (left) and Damian Willemse (right), and Dan du Plessis, after their win over Dragons over the past weekend. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
Exciting rising backline talent Suleiman Hartzenberg will hit a significant milestone for the Stormers when he runs on for his 50th appearance in their final United Rugby Championship (URC) pool match of the season against Cardiff at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
The match comes just a few days shy of his birthday, with him turning 22 next week Tuesday, and comes hot on the heels of 27-year-old Damian Willemse making his 100th Stormers appearance against Dragons over the past weekend.
Hartzenberg will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his fellow utility back, at both the Stormers and hopefully one day for the Springboks, and is looking forward to the occasion on Friday night after a tricky season that saw him out for an extended spell with injury.
Phenomenal season
'It's been a phenomenal season, and I've enjoyed every bit of it. Coming back from injury has been amazing as well and everything fell into place for me,' explained Hartzenberg.
'It's good to be back on the field with the guys. There have been things I had to improve on like my fitness and on defence when I returned. Things like poaching balls at the breakdown (after a tackle), and understanding the D (defence) better, from both perspectives, if I am playing at centre or wing.
'Being assisted by players around me has helped me a lot since my debut. There hasn't been one negative moment where no one was willing to help.'
Since making his Stormers debut as a 19-year-old in 2022, Hartzenberg has featured at fullback, centre and on the wing for the team.
He prefers to play in the midfield, but has turned out regularly on the wing in recent times, and admits that his versatility will aid him in his main goal of turning out for the Boks, with him having attended three alignment camps with them already.
Versatile player
'It is ultimately about making myself more versatile as a player, and being able to adapt to both centre and wing (seamlessly),' said Hartzenberg.
'Those alignment camps are completely different (from his experience at franchise level). You understand how the Springboks work in their system. You want more from it. They give you enough to want more and to pursue that dream of becoming a Springbok one day.'
Looking ahead to Friday's game against Cardiff, Hartzenberg says the team is fully focused on getting the win which will secure fifth place on the log for them and will see them likely face Glasgow Warriors or the Sharks, in the URC playoffs.
'Cardiff is 100 percent an attacking threat. We should not get comfortable because there's still a lot to play for. Whether they're playing to be in the play-offs or we're playing to either travel abroad or hopefully play in South Africa,' said Hartzenberg.
'We won't get complacent and continue to give our best. Our prep stays the same this week as it would with any other opposition.
'We're preparing as if we're playing a world-class team. It's going to be a competitive game, it's not going to be one where we feel they're not going to pitch and play for it.'
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