Can Dayimani plug the Kwagga Smith gap?

OPINION: Hacjivah Dayimani’s form and versatility should put him in the frame for selection this November as the Springboks continue to search for hybrid alternatives to Kwagga Smith.

The Boks are currently at the top of the southern conference in the Nations Championship.

If they beat Italy, France and Ireland in the coming Tests, they may qualify for the Grand Final in London at the end of November.

That said, coach Rassie Erasmus may view the upcoming tour to Europe as a final opportunity to experiment ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Squad development has been a priority since the beginning of Erasmus’ tenure, and as a result, the Boks have three or four quality options across most positions.

And yet, the search for a like-for-like alternative to Kwagga Smith continues.

The versatile player – who covers all three back-row positions as well as centre and wing – was sidelined with a serious knee injury earlier this year. He won’t return to action until 2027.

Over the past few months, Erasmus has attempted to plug the gap left by Smith on the Bok bench.

Cameron Hanekom – who covers all three back-row positions – certainly made the most of his opportunities in the marquee matches against the All Blacks to stake a claim for a place in next year’s World Cup squad.

While the Boks will need players like Hanekom in Australia, they may also need an alternative to Smith, should the veteran succumb to another injury.

The inclusion of a player like Smith gives the Boks so many more options on their bench and ultimately across their “finishing XV”.

As seen in many Tests over the past nine years, Smith has often been the key to a six-two or seven-one split.

Perhaps the time is right to consider another player who is good enough to contribute in the forwards as well as the backs, namely Hacjivah Dayimani.

The Stormers hybrid has been one of South Africa’s form players during the first three rounds of the United Rugby Championship.

As Bok flanker turned commentator Schalk Burger noted after the recent win against the Sharks, Dayimani has started to deliver for the Stormers in the trenches, and is a more complete player than was the case when he won the URC title with the Cape side in 2022.

While Dayimani has scored three tries in three matches, it’s his work-rate against Connacht, Edinburgh and the Sharks that has caught the eye.

The Stormers lost to Edinburgh in Round Two, but Dayimani made 17 tackles – including four dominant hits.

The versatile player has been one of the Stormers’ top carriers in recent fixtures, and has been deployed “up the guts” rather than on the edges where his speed is typically maximised.

As Stormers coach John Dobson observed after the win against the Sharks, Dayimani has lost none of his pace, and it will be interesting to see how his role changes once the team’s first-choice No.8 – Evan Roos – returns from injury.

Dayimani may move back to No.7, or take up a Smith-type role on a Stormers’ bench that often features six forwards.

Whatever the case, he will give the Stormers more options and amplify their threat.

There’s still time for the 29-year-old to break into the Bok set-up, even if he doesn’t travel with the team to the World Cup next year.

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In 2028, many of the older Boks will move on, and Erasmus will rebuild the squad with a view to peaking at the next global tournament in 2031.

But with Smith nursing a serious injury at present, it may be time for Erasmus to consider what Dayimani can offer as a rare type of hybrid that plays in the forwards and backs.

This is not to suggest that Dayimani should jump the queue and start the big Tests this November.

Paul de Villiers, Hanekom, Elrigh Louw and a few other second- and third-choice players will be desperate for an extended run before 2027.

There may be value, however, in bringing Dayimani into the national set-up sooner rather than later.

Better that the Boks have a look at Dayimani now than in July next year, if the worst-case scenario comes to pass, and Smith breaks down with another injury that rules him out of the World Cup.

While Dayimani has a special skill-set, he will certainly benefit from some direct feedback from the Bok coaches.

Every player who attends a national alignment camp or training session receives a “road map” or breakdown of their work-ons.

If Dayimani joins the squad this November, he will get a direct answer to the question of what more he needs to do to become a capped Bok.

At the same time, Erasmus and company will find out whether Dayimani is ready to serve as Smith’s understudy, and whether he deserves more opportunities in 2027.

The Boks have had a successful season to date, but in a sense, their options have been limited in the absence of key Bomb Squad regulars like Smith and RG Snyman, who is also sidelined with a serious injury.

Smith should be back in 2027, but perhaps it’s time to look at a contingency plan and an alternative in that specialist role.