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Hacjivah Dayimani exits SA on back of Springboks snub
By Neil Fissler
French giants Racing 92 are poised to make their fourth signing for next season, with Stormers back-row Hacjivah Dayimani on the verge of completing a move to the Top 14 title chasers.
Fissler Confidential recently broke the news that Dayimani, 26, wanted to quit South Africa after he was Springboks alignment camp in Cape Town despite being under contract to the Cape Town side until the end of next season.
He was snubbed in favour of Elrigh Louw and Mpilo Gumede because Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus had concerns about him winning battles with other No.8's.
“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,” said Erasmus.
Dayimani, who plays No.8 or flanker, joined The Stormers from the Lions three years ago and has been in outstanding form in both the United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup this season.
He really caught the eye against Sale Sharks, beating 10 defenders and scoring his only try in 215 appearances this season in the Stormer’s 31-24 win, landing himself the man of the match award for his most outstanding performance of the season.
Racing have held off strong offers from Japan to sign the destructive ball carrier on a two-year contract with the option for a third year after he is released from the final year of his contract.
Stuart Lancaster has been busy in recent months improving his squad after watching them slip to fourth place in the Top 14 table, a point behind Bordeaux and nine off Toulouse, with arch-rivals Stade Francais 10 ahead.
Former England captain Owen Farrell has been lured away from Premiership Champions Saracens, while Lyon pair Romain Taofifenua and Bemba Bamba have also been signed up.
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Latest Comments
I haven't seen DMac "intense" hate, though you clearly have. For me, it's been more like disappointment in his 2nd half game management. I remember Foster yanking him v AUS after HT at Dunedin, after giving him the start. Still, that cameo v ENG was immense. Played perfectly, hopefully he can reach those game management heights again.
Go to commentsLet’s hope so mj. The way the All Blacks are playing is not very All Blacks.
I think it’s semi-hilarious that England and New Zealand have reverted to the style SA employed - kicking the rubber off the ball for 80 minutes. A style widely panned by everyone, mostly the English and Kiwis!
In England “winning ugly” even became a popular statement. After a sneak victory over Ireland. Now England just lose ugly.
Anyway…
The one area of the AB team that needs serious work is discipline.
The ABs go down to 14 men so regularly you can set your watch to it. It seems now that in an effort to tackle low, ABs aren’t even looking when they tackle!
Who is coaching the ABs defence? Because it’s been sh1t since before the 2023 RWC.
And lastly, scrums. Not enough is being said about the NZ scrum looking behind the curve when missing key personnel. A lot was said about the size and power of the AB pack at the beginning of the season. But NZ have not dominated the big teams. Recently SA and England had NZ on the back foot.
I’m starting to have my doubts about Ryan as a forwards coach. NZ aren’t making strides there.
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