The exciting Hacjivah Dayimani is determined to fire against Ulster on Saturday, whether that’s in the Stormers back row or the backline, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
Known for his try-scoring breaks and speed, the versatile Dayimani has shown a harder edge this season as he continues to develop a more rounded skill set, and his interplay for the Stormers has dovetailed with abrasive No 8 Evan Roos and wily opensider Deon Fourie.
Ulster completely outplayed Munster in the first URC quarter-final in Belfast on Friday night, and in the regular-season clash between Saturday’s semi-final opponents the Stormers had to weather a second-half onslaught from Ulster as the Capetonians successfully defended a three-point lead in the final 20 minutes.
Set to pack down with former Stormers skipper Duane Vermeulen in the Irish loose trio is the athletic Nick Timoney, who was named in the official URC Dream Team for 2021-22, and the impressive yet underrated Marcus Rea.
Talking about the Stormers’ rematch with Ulster at Cape Town Stadium, as well as another potential face-off with Vermeulen, Dayimani told media: “From my side, they come with the size and I bring something that they don’t. There’s obviously a guy like Duane, who I know very well from playing against when he was at the Bulls.
“But I always believe that my circus act, and Evan’s circus act, and Deon’s circus act, is enough to go against anyone in the competition, especially if you do it right.
ICYMI – Full speed with Dayimani
“A good thing about this competition [at the moment] is that other than Duane, I don’t really know a lot about the other players and likewise they don’t know a lot about me, so it always creates that hype around ‘What are you going to bring out the box?’ type of surprise. It’s just an exciting battle.
“You’ve got Deon who’s hovering around looking for something to steal, as well as slows the ball down. And then it’s Evan who’s trying to get us momentum … and then I come in off that quick ball. We all complement each other – if I create broken play, Evan survives and plays well, and Deon thrives.
“I always want to create moments for other guys to shine, and vice versa.”
What makes Dayimani unique is that he by no means fits into the boxes that tend to be assigned to him, and the 1.88m, 100kg-plus flank is even happy to slot in at inside centre – where the influential Damian Willemse has been sidelined for the Stormers.
Dayimani, who was used as a backline replacement at the Lions, was ready to fill in when Stormers centre Rikus Pretorius was injured early on Saturday against Edinburgh, and again when replacement debutant Sacha Mngomezulu left the field.
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The 24-year-old said: “When Rikus went down I did the quick math [as coach John Dobson had gone with a six-two split on the bench] … and then Sacha started limping … I was like ‘If Sacha goes down now, I’ll have to shift’ and I was ready for the challenge.
“I’ve played 12 at the Lions, I’ve played wing against the Crusaders, I’ve played 13. Even sometimes in a game in broken play I’m always in the backline. It’s not something that’s really going to change. I’m very comfortable slotting in wherever the team needs me.”
His unconventionality is why he believes, despite his critics, he will become a Springbok: “I have ambitions to play for the Boks. Over the years, it’s always been one thing or another: either my size or my ball-carrying or defence is not effective.
“It’s got to a point where I just want to play because people will always have something to say. I just try to prove myself against the best every week, and for me it’s always personal … and to prove people wrong.”
