Hartzenberg the centre of attention as Stormers' tough URC play-off road starts in Glasgow

Daily Maverick

a day ago

Rising star Suleiman Hartzenberg has been selected at outside centre to face Glasgow in the URC quarterfinals.
The old rugby cliché of 'one game at a time' is never truer than in play-off rugby, because there is no value in looking too far ahead. In round-robin play there is 'next week'. In a knockout… well… there isn't.
For the Stormers, who face defending United Rugby Championship (URC) champions Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun in Glasgow on Friday, 30 May 2025, there really is no sense in worrying about what might come in the semifinals should they progress.
That's for journalists and fans to speculate about. And a quick look at the table and the other quarterfinal in the Stormers' half of the draw, sees top seeds Leinster hosting eighth seeds Scarlets.
So, speculating away, unless the Welsh club produce the biggest upset in the history of the URC, Leinster should make it to the semis. That's the prize for the winner in Glasgow.
It's obvious the road to glory in 2025 is stacked against the Stormers, which was confirmed when they failed to make the top four on the standings at the end of league play.
To have even a shot at the title, they are going to have to do it the hard way, so coach John Dobson has understandably focused only on the immediate task – finding a way to beat Glasgow in their backyard.
'Horses for courses'
His team must do it without the influential utility back Damian Willemse, who is suspended, and without Bok tighthead Frans Malherbe, whose prolonged absence through injury raises the questions about his future.
Dobson has gone with a 6-2 split between forwards and backs with scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies and flyhalf Manie Libbok covering the backline on the bench.
It's clear Dobson thinks the path to victory is around the pack, while the likes of centre Suleiman Hartzenberg and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are versatile enough to cover every position in the backline.
Dobson admitted that Hartzenberg, who plays wing as well, could probably have benefited with more game time at outside centre earlier in the campaign.
The 21-year-old, who already has 50 Stormers caps, appears unflappable though, as he prepares to go up against newly selected British & Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu.
'We probably should've given him more games at outside centre,' Dobson said.
'It is a move we want to make in the long term. We looked at the opposition, how we want to defend and the surface [Scotstoun has an artificial pitch].
'We obviously had the option of the more experienced one [centre] in Wandi [Simelane], who is unlucky to miss out.
'Without saying too much – we've got a plan in terms of the way Suleiman played two weeks ago on the wing, where he was excellent.
'It's not a stepping surface. It's more high-speed where you'll need someone who can work back.
'We made some tweaks to our defence where we feel Suleiman can be useful. Some of the plans are more around the aerial game.
'It's a horses-for-courses selection. You can't account for injuries and suspensions, but I feel this is the best team we can put out.'
As for the bench decision, Dobson made it clear it was well thought through.
'It's [the 6-2 split] worked more often than not,' Dobson said. 'It will be a tight game. We can put on two Springboks in the backs with Manie [Libbok] that can come on at fullback with Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] being able to pretty much cover the whole backline.
'Dan du Plessis can move to No 13 and Suleiman can move out to wing.
'If you end that game with Louw Nel covering tiring loose forwards and with Connor Evans and JD Schickerling at lock, who can also play flank alongside Joseph Dweba, and [props] Vernon Matongo and Sazi Sandi in the front row can be a massive impact in the pack.
'That's our plan. The 4G pitch will require a lot of running; the pack is likely to tire. If we didn't have that multi-skilled backline cover then a five-three split would be more risky.'
Growth
The Stormers have only ever beaten Glasgow once in five outings in URC history, but Dobson remained optimistic that they wouldn't be burdened by history.
The Stormers boss is also buoyed by the growth in experience of the squad, despite missing key players such as Willemse and Malherbe.
'Where I do feel we are stronger is the guys that we've brought through,' Dobson said. 'Take [flank] Marcel Theunissen, for example; I know he's played 50-odd games for us but he's developed into a really good player.
'The Louw Nels, the Vernons [Matongo], the Sazis [Sandi], that element was probably missing or they were considerably less experienced this time last year.
'I can list Kitsie [Steven Kitshoff], Frans Malherbe, Brok Harris, Deon Fourie, BJ Dixon and Damian Willemse who aren't here, but it just feels like this group are considerably more advanced in terms of depth and our belief than we were this time last year.
'It feels a lot different to us.'
The Stormers have some of the best attacking stats in the competition (see graph) but their defence is not watertight. Given the conditions it's obvious that Hartzenberg's selection is a call to shore up defence, while still providing an attacking threat.
Glasgow coach Franco Smith noted the Stormers' attacking threats.
'The Stormers will pose one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the competition, and we know that we must be at our best to meet the challenge they will bring,' Smith said.
'They have the ability to hurt any team with the ball in hand, mixing a physical forward pack with a backline that can spark something from anywhere.' DM
URC quarterfinals:
Friday, 30 May
8.35pm: Glasgow Warriors vs Stormers, Glasgow –
Saturday, 31 May
1.30pm: Bulls vs Edinburgh, Pretoria.
4pm: Leinster vs Scarlets, Dublin.
6.30pm: Sharks vs Munster, Durban