Stormers back newly acquired 4G smarts ahead of Belfast test against Ulster

The Stormers believe their growing familiarity with artificial surfaces could prove decisive when they face Ulster in Friday night’s United Rugby Championship clash in Belfast (8.45pm kick-off).

Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani made it clear that lessons from previous tours have shaped a far more calculated approach to playing on a 4G pitch – a surface that has historically posed challenges for South African teams.

Last season’s trip to Belfast offered a steep learning curve. The Stormers spent several days training on the synthetic surface, only to find that it took a toll on the players’ bodies.

“We didn’t spend a lot of time training on it firstly, and then when we did, the boys took quite long to recover,” Hlungwani explained. “That’s one of the reasons why we’ve decided to do most of our preparation at home this time.”

Instead of adapting on arrival, the Stormers have front-loaded their work during a bye week, ensuring they hit the ground running when they land in Northern Ireland. It’s a strategy built on both physical management and a deeper understanding of how the surface changes the game.

The differences are subtle but significant. The 4G pitch is quicker, the ball movement less predictable, and momentum in contact situations amplified, Hlungwani revealed in a Stormers media conference on Monday afternoon.

“It’s a really fast pitch. The ball bobbles a lot and keeps rolling, so you can’t rely on it going dead,” he said.

“The momentum you get from carries is different, so your body height has to be right. The same applies to tackling … those small details become very important.”

Those details, he believes, could be the difference in what has historically been a tightly contested fixture. Recent meetings between the Stormers and Ulster have been decided by narrow margins, and Hlungwani expects more of the same. However, he feels the Stormers now hold a key advantage: experience.

“I think the last win we had on 4G was Connacht away. We’ve won in Edinburgh, we’ve come close at Ulster, we've come close at Cardiff, but we see those experiences as an opportunity to learn,” he said.

“We feel we've got a strong understanding of how to prepare and play on that surface. We have had wins, probably the biggest one at Stade Francais.”

Still, there is no sense of complacency. Both teams head into the clash with plenty at stake. Ulster are fighting to secure a playoff spot, while the Stormers are determined to hold on to top position and secure home advantage.

“The desperation is there from our side,” Hlungwani admitted. “We want to come back still number one and give ourselves the best chance to play play-offs at home in Cape Town.”