VIDEO: How speedster Maart 'trained himself' into Stormers debut
SPOTLIGHT: There’s an old saying that says ‘you make your own luck in life’ and that rings true for Stormers debutant Dylan Maart.
From winning the 2025 Currie Cup in September to making his United Rugby Championship debut just over two months later is an extraordinary story of hard work and determination.
And that is exactly the reason the Wellington-born speedster has been entrusted with the No.14 jersey against Munster in the absence of the injured Seabelo Senatla, according to Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson.
Dobson said that Maart’s attitude in training and his skillset – something the Stormers didn’t know much about made his selection a no-brainer.
He also credited the Griquas for aiding Maart’s development.
The Stormers and Griquas have a partnership in which players can be loaned to each other, benefiting both teams.
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“The Currie Cup, where they did so well, and we are chuffed for Griquas, is a very different game to Thomond Park on a Saturday night against an unbeaten Munster.
“A lot of his [selection] had to do with how he’s trained. He’s been so good in training, and he did the stuff that we needed,” Dobson told @Rugby365.
“Griquas prepared him. We didn’t have him for that long, so they’ve done amazing work with him.
“His aerial skills, toughness, and reads on defence. He’s got the absolute buy-in, trust and support from Warrick Gelant.
“And if you’ve got Warrick’s stamp of approval, then you’re good to go, and Warrick makes up his own mind on everything,” a chuckling Dobson said.
“At training, it’s probably how he’s done it. We knew he had some talent, but perhaps the stuff we didn’t realise just by watching the Currie Cup was the high-ball stuff, with fewer contestable balls being kicked there than in this competition.
“His toughness, his defensive work, and his work rate are perhaps stuff we didn’t see in the Currie Cup.
“He also has a sheer desperation to make it and take [the opportunity], and that’s what we’ve seen.”
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Dobson confirmed that the team will be bolstered by former Junior Springbok Suleiman Hartzenberg, who returns to action next week following an injury lay-off.
He also admitted that he had considered a different selection to Maart, but his attitude in training could not be ignored.
“We got Seabelo [Senatala], who is injured and Suleiman [Hartzenberg], who will be back next week.
“We could’ve pushed Ruhan [Nel] onto the wing and Dan [Du Plessis] at No.12.
“But we’ve seen so much from Dylan Maart, who trained himself into this place, which is really cool, and I’m really excited for him.”
