The versatile Hacjivah Dayimani’s newfound stopping power and leadership should place him in any team’s selection picture, according to Stormers boss John Dobson.
He spoke after Dayimani’s two-try heroics in Saturday’s 39-22 win over the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium, which followed his Man of the Match outing in Edinburgh last week.
Known for his pizzazz that thrives on the DNA of the Stormers, Dayimani has tried to strengthen all aspects of his game since re-joining the Cape Town-based club after a loan spell from Racing 92 at the end of last season.
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“We have a players’ Man of the Match, which always differs from what SuperSport comes up with. In the first two games, Hacjivah was a convincing winner,” Dobson told reporters.
“What’s changed about Hacjivah is his stopping power; I don’t know whether it’s because he’s decided what the gym is or because he’s got more determined. But in that All Blacks game [on 7 August], he was physical. Against Connacht – physical.
“The other thing I’ve enjoyed about him is his leadership. We said in the training of the Currie Cup guys, he leads it.”
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Dayimani, who can play across the back row, has started three successive games at No 8 and his versatility offers Dobson greater flexibility with his team composition.
“He’s played a good number of Top 14 games on the wing,” the director of rugby added. “He moved onto the wing in the All Blacks game, and did really well.
“We’re always going to be a 6-2 [bench] team and you need one of the forwards to be able to play up there, so Hacjivah on the wing … that’s the plan.”
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Rassie Erasmus values Springboks who can play multiple positions, the hybrid André Esterhuizen easily the most successful. Dayimani meets the criteria, yet a call-up still alludes him.
“He’s metamorphosised,” Dobson continued. “I can’t speak to his national [prospects], but at 28 years old and when you talk about hybrids, a guy who can run 10.80 and has stopping power has got to be in anybody’s [selection] frame eventually.
“But look, he needs to do this for a whole year because he hasn’t ever given much hope before, if you know what I mean.
“He’s had flashes of brilliance. He needs to build a proper innings. He’s just at the start of it. If he carries on like this, I’ve got no doubt about it.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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The versatile Hacjivah Dayimani’s newfound stopping power and leadership should place him in any team’s selection picture, according to Stormers boss John Dobson.
The post Dayimani metamorphosising into a Bok? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
