Suleiman Hartzenberg is relishing a milestone achievement in his Stormers career as the Cape outfit welcome back a key member in the pack to face Cardiff on Friday night.
Defence coach Norman Laker on Monday confirmed in a Stormers conference that tighthead prop Neethling Fouche is available for the Capetonians’ final match of the Vodacom URC league campaign at Cape Town Stadium.
Fouche has completed a World Rugby coaching intervention programme that reduced a controversial four-game ban for the scrum anchor by a week.
He was sent off for what was deemed a dangerous tackle on centre Ben Carson during a URC defeat by Ulster at Kingspan Stadium in round 14 of the competition. A disciplinary panel dismissed an appeal by the Stormers to have his conviction overturned.
Fouche’s return is a big boost for John Dobson’s men heading into the playoffs. Veteran prop Brok Harris has called time on his decorated career after a knee injury while question marks remain over the availability of Frans Malherbe, who is sidelined with a back injury.
Sazi Sandi has started the last three matches in the No 3 jersey for the Stormers, with former Junior Springbok skipper Zach Porthen making his debut off the bench at tighthead during last week’s bonus-point win over Dragons.
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Hartzenberg, meanwhile, is champing at the bit to run out this week for his 50th cap – at the tender age of 21, and in only his third professional season.
One of South Africa’s most exciting young talents, Hartzenberg’s ability to play both on the wing and at outside centre has made him a versatile asset, as well as earned him a third call-up to a national alignment camp in March.
On reaching his 50th appearance, his versatility and making great strides towards representing the Springboks, he said: “It has been phenomenal and I have enjoyed every moment of it.
“It is ultimately about making myself more versatile as a player, being able to adapt to both centre and wing. I think for those alignment camps, it is completely different [from what I’ve learnt at the Stormers].
“The Boks work in a different system where it leaves you wanting more from it, and wanting to remain part of the squad.
“They give you enough [info] to always want more and pursue the dream of becoming a Springbok one day.”
A win against Cardiff will see the Stormers secure fifth place on the URC log and set up a potential quarter-final showdown with defending champions Glasgow Warriors on 30 May.
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
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