You could refer to him as South African rugby’s first hybrid player. Hacjivah Dayimani moonlighting on the wing when he was at the Lions under Swys de Bruyn long predated Andre Esterhuizen’s exploits doubling as a flanker in addition to his usual centre role for the Springboks.
Only recently turned 29, Dayimani is ready to increase his focus on a dual role should it be needed by DHL Stormers coach John Dobson, as indeed it was in the match against the All Blacks in August, where he finished the game on the wing after excelling in his loose-forward role.
Excel is what Dayimani has done in the last two games he has played for the Stormers, first as a starting blindside flank in the first game of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, and then at No 8 in the 29-15 win over Connacht in Galway that kicked off the Stormers’ Vodacom URC campaign last Friday night.
What was notable in both of those games was how ready Dayimani was to be abrasive and do the hard work in the tight, although he has lost none of the pace that made him such an X-factor player before. In a nutshell, he has become a more rounded player, which was part of the reason he went to Racing 92 in France to be coached by former England coach and Leinster senior mentor Stuart Lancaster.
“I think for me, getting back from France (as part of a short-term deal last season), I had to consider a few things,” said Dayimani during a break in the buildup to Friday’s second URC game against Edinburgh.
“France was where I realised there was part of my game where I have to show up more on. I had the ability when I was younger to play more tight as I was playing for teams that played tight and I was required to be tight. Then I moved to teams that played more to the edges. And then that part of my game started to come through more.
“I think the way South African rugby is going you need to do both. In the competitions we play in, we get confronted by very different conditions and therefore game requirements. When we are in South Africa in the summer, we play to the edges more, but then we go north and in mid-winter it is cold or wet, and you have to be tight.
“That helps me to adapt. When Evan Roos is not around, and I am at No 8 for the Stormers, I need to carry and be confrontational. Sometimes you will see me a lot on the edges, and at other times, you will see me being tight. These days (on this northern hemisphere tour), when it is either wet or cold, I have to be more in the tight channels.”
VERSATILITY AND ADAPTABILITY
Versatility and adaptability have always been key words for Dayimani, but perhaps even more so now. And in this era of recognising the contribution and value that a hybrid player can bring, it could well lead to international recognition in time, particularly now that he is showing up more in the tighter aspects of forward play.
“For me at the moment, it is good that there is depth at the Stormers and that we are becoming a big team,” he said.
“I knew my role when I was coming back. I will play where the coach needs me and where the system needs me. I will happily cover No 6, No 6 or No 8, and wing. This week might see me on the wing, or maybe not. It will be interesting to see,” he added with a chuckle.
He’s certainly ready to play a wide backline position, having played there quite a bit in France. But right now his form at loose-forward has been so good that he can add a lot of value in the positions he has played most of his rugby.
“For me personally, it has been a good past few games and it is paying off for working hard in the pre-season,” he says.
“I’ve been working on adapting a different style, becoming more involved. My strength is ball in hand, but I have been working with Norman (defence coach Norman Laker) on putting focus on big defence and big attack. So far it is looking decent.”
He’s also become one of the senior players in the squad now, and with that comes a greater sense of responsibility.
“Playing with Riley (Norton) and Louw (Nel) was good. For me, coming into meetings now and having guys like Riley there and other young players, it has forced me to kind of lead, with them asking the questions. They ask you about the detail required in different positions, and it forces you to step up in the sense you need to know everything. You have to keep your standards for those guys, as you know they are watching you.”
KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM EDINBURGH
Regardless of whether he is at loose-forward or if the presence in the squad this week of Springboks Siya Kolisi and Ben-Jason Dixon makes it possible for him to play on the wing, Dayimani has been very involved in the strategising ahead of the Edinburgh game and knows what the Stormers should expect from opponents who scored a good away win over Ulster last weekend.
“We’ve picked up that they like a big hit in the scrums and base a lot around that, and it is obviously something we want to take away from them,” said Dayimani. “Also the lineouts, if we can target them there. The wind last week made the lineouts tricky, but playing in Europe, you just have to adapt. As much as it may be advantageous for them that they train here, the wind also affects them.
“Last week we struggled a bit in the first half around our options based on the wind, but in the second half, we came up with a good plan that sorted everything out.”
THIS SEASON WILL DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Dayimani was initially back at the Stormers on a short-term deal but decided to extend for a year, and what happens this season, and how much of a contribution he makes to the Stormers, will determine what he does next.
“There were a lot of reasons I decided to extend. I am here for one more season because when I came back at first I did not do much. I made it my mission to see how it pans out. I lost my brother in December, so it also helps to be closer to home. I want to go all out in this one season and see where it takes me and then take it from there.”
It’s been a case of so far so good for Dayimani, and while the Stormers do have a lot of depth at loose-forward, his ability to link the forwards and backs hasn’t gone away, and it makes him a valuable cog in the machine when he plays.