Erasmus addresses latest Hacjivah Dayimani selection snub

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus explains Hacjivah Dayimani’s omission from the recent alignment camp in Cape Town.

The loose forward has delivered a number of standout performances for the Stormers this season with many predicting that he is not too far off from representing the Boks.

And although it was just the first of three alignment camps before Erasmus finalises his squad for the upcoming Test season, it still came as a surprise that the 26-year-old was not part of the 43-man group in Cape Town.

Since his exclusion, media reports have suggested that overseas clubs are lining up to sign the player.

Stormers head coach John Dobson recently confirmed to @rugby365com that “discussions are in place” regarding his future in Cape Town.

For Erasmus, Dayimani doesn’t seem to tick enough boxes for inclusion in the Bok set-up.

“We certainly looked at Hacjivah,” said Erasmus.

“When we looked at his roadmap, and I am not talking specifically about him, I am talking about other loose forwards competing with other loose forwards and how many battles you get into and how many battles you win.

“If you look at hookers and you look at how many tries they scored then all of them should be Springboks. They are at the back of a maul and they score eight tries.

“We look at your workrate and your understanding. When you make a tackle, do you dominate that tackle?”

Erasmus used Cheslin Kolbe as an example when he explained the workrate that is needed at Test level.

“If Cheslin was just stepping guys, we would never pick Cheslin. But Cheslin is tackling guys, he is stealing balls, he is going up for the high ball, so he is a complete player,” said Erasmus.

“I am not talking about Hacjivah specifically, but there are a lot of players that are really good, but they are not complete.

“Hacjivah is not out of the mix in terms of playing a Test match this year. There is always a possibility.”

RugbyPass understands that Dayimani is now poised to move to Japan next season after being left out of the alignment camp in Cape Town. Read more about that in this week's Fissler Confidential.