It will be remembered for the DHL Stormers clinching a home final against Munster but the circumstances surrounding the playoff phase to the 2022/2023 Vodacom URC season for the Cape team are something that their speedy wing Seabelo Senatla would rather forget.
Senatla was present when the Stormers beat the Vodacom Bulls at the start of the playoff phase in 2023, with that being the last quarterfinal they played at home prior to this weekend’s visit by Cardiff to the DHL Stadium.
However, he was involved in a motor accident the following week that prevented him from playing in the semifinal against Connacht and the decider against Munster.
Missing those two games was small stuff compared to the bigger picture - his injuries were serious enough to make it seem highly unlikely that the man born in Welkom and the product of Riebeeck High School in that Northern Free State town would ever play again.
However, after a year away Senatla made his return and he was a first-half try scorer when the Stormers lost in Glasgow in last season’s quarterfinal at the Scotstoun Stadium.
He was looking forward to a good full season with the Stormers in this campaign but unfortunately injuries have relegated him to a bit part in his team’s challenge for silverware, with director of rugby John Dobson making no bones about the fact that his strike power out wide has been sorely missed.
He’s making a timely return though for the Cardiff quarterfinal and both the pace that gives him his X-factor and his experience of the big occasion will be welcomed by his teammates as well as the energy he brings when he is present.
Seabelo Senatla is ready to be unleashed in the @Vodacom #URC Quarter-Final on Saturday. You're going to want to be there at DHL Stadium.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 26, 2026
🎟️ https://t.co/eUJkxUA9iF#inittogether pic.twitter.com/RnGuwD7aPK
HAS TITLE WINNING EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAPE TEAM
In terms of experience of the big occasion, Senatla was a top performer for the national Sevens team over many years, and among his many achievements as a Blitzbok was a bronze medal picked up at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio as well as a Commonwealth Games gold, before he decided to specialise in the 15-man game in 2018, as well as being part of the Stormers team that won the URC final in 2022.
Senatla was a constant presence for most of that season and played on the left wing in the decider against the Bulls and after being on the winning side in three playoff games that year and as well as the home quarterfinal the following year he is not short of experience when it comes to winning big Stormers home playoff games.
BEING BACK FOR PLAYOFF GAME MAKES UP FOR FRUSTRATION
He said in a clip recorded at a Stormers training session at the start of the buildup week to the Cardiff game that being part of the team at the start of the knockout phases will make up for the frustration he has felt during an injury ravaged season, with his last game for the team being their win against the Dragons in March.
That was a comeback game after an injury layoff that had started in October and he showed encouraging form in the first half but was then forced off with a calf injury that has kept him out until now.
“Looking at the season, it has been a stop start season for me. But if you look at the bigger picture, we are playing a home quarterfinal and I am back again,” he said.
“Three years later I have an opportunity to go back into the same frame of mind I was in back then (in 2023 before the accident). I will obviously try and contribute as much as I can to the team and hopefully I will bring energy to the other guys, lift the energy of those around me. I am very excited myself.”
The 22-16 loss to Cardiff away in the final league game was massive disappointment for the Stormers as it denied them the top two finish that would have strengthened their chances of also hosting a semifinal.
But 33-year-old Senatla says the juncture of the season that has been reached means there is an automatic infusion of energy into the playing squad.
“I obviously missed that one (the Cardiff game) but heading back to Cape Town after Cardiff we looked at ourselves and we found the energy, knowing the possibilities that lie ahead of us,” said Senatla.
“It is lovely to be back at DHL Stadium, it is lovely to play at home and it is lovely to play in front of our people. We are looking forward to the chance to show what we can do. (Playing at home) gives us a great sense of responsibility as well. We say ‘Hey, the guys are coming in to watch us so we need to make sure we present ourselves well and we need to give them a show’.”