'A coach's dream': Versatile young gun inching closer to Bok selection?

SPOTLIGHT: Suleiman Hartzenberg’s stock continues to rise, especially after his 50th appearance for the Stormers over the weekend.

Playing on the wing, the 21-year-old produced a man-of-the-match performance in his side’s 34-24 win over Cardiff.

He scored two tries and he was also the game’s top carrier with 16, demonstrating his work rate and his willingness to go looking for the ball.

Hartzenberg, who hails from Manenberg, has already caught the eye at the national level after he participated in a few Springbok alignment camps. His last camp with Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus was in Cape Town in March.

After last Friday’s outing in the final round of the United Rugby Championship, Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson is even more confident about the young gun’s road to the green and gold jersey.

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“This guy was special,” said Dobson.

“It’s incredible. It was his 50th, and he is only 21, and to play like he played, we are super proud.

“He is just super.”

Dobson added: “He can play for South Africa at wing or centre. He is going to; I’ve got no doubt.”

That debate around his preferred position in the backline is raging on, but for Hartzenberg, it’s all about being versatile for the greater cause.

“I prefer No.13, but obviously, for me at the moment, the team sees me at wing, so I am happy to cover there because that is what we need.

“I am not afraid to fill that role, and versatility makes me a better player. If we want to go for a six-two split in the future, I can come off the bench or be a starting player.

“To be able to shift the backline around is a coach’s dream as well.”

The young man commented on his progress with the Stormers: “In my first year it was more about finding my feet and getting used to the system and understanding what they want from me.

“As the years went on now, I think I found myself a bit more and understood what is expected from me by the coaches and from the team.

“It is just about performing at my best.

“Having guys like Damian Willemse, Dan du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Manie Libbok makes my job easier.

“We are all on the same page.”

@rugby365com