Swimming with the big fish at the Shark Tank is evolving Dylan Richardson into an apex predator worth keeping a close eye on.
The Cell C Sharks flank has seized his chance to impress over the first five rounds of the 2022-23 Vodacom United Rugby Championship as coach Sean Everitt delayed deploying Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and new acquisition Vincent Tshituka (shoulder).
Richardson, a Kearsney College schoolboy product, has started four matches this season – the first three at blindside flank before switching to the opposite side of the scrum – and was named Man of the Match in a come-from-behind 20-19 victory over Dragons in Newport.
“His robustness is the reason we’re playing him on the blindside because he’s physical and he puts in a lot of carries,” Everitt said of the 23-year-old breakaway.
“Dylan has always been an all-round loose forward. His scavenging and his excellence on the ground add to his team selection.
“There was talk of Dylan moving to hooker, but he’s comfortable on the flank and he covers all the areas that we need him to.
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“Dylan and James [Venter] get through a mountain of work and their tackle count is very high. They’re able to put pressure on the breakdown.”
A Sharks squad that already boasted great riches in the loose-forward department, including Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Phepsi Buthelezi, was further strengthened in the off-season with the signing of Tshituka from the Emirates Lions.
The added depth and competition has only fuelled Richardson’s drive to cement his place in the starting lineup.
“I am happy about the competition because there’s a lot I can learn,” said Richardson. “I’m just absorbing as much as I can, and being in that sort of company makes you want to raise your whole game to another level.”
Richardson, now a capped Scotland international who has come through the Sharks system, played a big part in lifting South Africa to a bronze-medal finish at the 2019 U20 Championships in Argentina, starring alongside former Junior Bok captain Buthelezi.
Fielded together in the 40-12 win over Glasgow, Richardson, Tshituka and Buthelezi formed a versatile trio providing the Sharks with dynamic, high-energy contributions in general play, matching work rate and grit, strong carries with tenacious tackle fight, as well as crunching tackles with raiding the breakdown.
Richardson is thriving despite the star-studded company in Durban and he appears to be relishing the challenge of fighting for a place in one of the club game’s most potent forward packs.
“I’m a local Durban boy, so my heart’s always been with the Sharks,” he said. “I’ve supported them since I was a kid and it’s definitely a dream to play for them.”
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Photo: Inpho Photography
