Dayimani doesn’t want centre stage
SPOTLIGHT: Hacjivah Dayimani says he has no intentions of returning to the backline, as he continues to build his repertoire as a loose forward in the Stormers set-up.
With his speed and athleticism, there has been some chatter in the public around whether the Stormers will use him in the back division – as other teams have done in the past.
However, according to Dayimani, it will only take his career a step backwards if that should happen.
“It’s been a talking point from back in school when I played for Jeppe,” said Dayimani.
“They shifted me around – from wing and centre, but to be honest, for me it comes down to personal preference.
“I prefer playing loose forward because when I break lines and step and run around players at loose forward it is something different.
“But if I do it at wing, I’m just another wing because all the wings are doing it.
“Me going to the backline will also be a disadvantage to me because my aerial skills and so many other things that I haven’t jumped on is something that I will have to bring to the table.
“That is going to put me back in the pecking order.
“[Former Lions coach] Swys [de Bruin] has tried me at wing. I played wing against the Crusaders and I played No.12 against the Sharks in Super Rugby and to be honest in open play it is no different.
“It’s only the set-piece, but at the end of the day I am a loose forward.”
⚡️ High voltage stuff from @Hacjivah who steps and bolts through to score. #LIOvSTO #iamastormer #dhldelivers https://t.co/qGbKap3kjm
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 12, 2022
Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman jumped on Haymani’s answer to that question.
“I completely agree. With the X-factor he brings, it’s like when they tried to move Bob Skinstad to No.12 in the backline,” said Snyman
“He [Skinstad] just had that X-factor.
“That’s how I feel about Hacjivah.
“He brings something to the party, so instead of moving him around it’s just about him becoming better at the small things as a loose forward and hopefully he can get into the Green and Gold.”
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