Aphiwe Dyantyi

Aphiwe Dyantyi in 2018. Photo: AFP

Why Aphiwe Dyantyi will be missed at the Rugby World Cup

Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that a few Springboks won’t be match-fit in time for Japan, crushing their World Cup hopes, here is who they will miss the most.

Aphiwe Dyantyi

Aphiwe Dyantyi in 2018. Photo: AFP

Aphiwe Dyantyi’s short career has been somewhat of a rollercoaster. A Varsity Cup standout just 2 years ago who was just playing for the fun of it. Fast forward a year and he was taking to international rugby like a duck to water on the way to winning World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year.

2019 has been less of a fairy tale for the 24 year old, and almost cruelly his upward trajectory is now being halted before the game’s biggest event, the Rugby World Cup, Rassie Erasmus confirmed after the Test match against Argentina that Dyantyi, Warren Whiteley and Damian Willemse were all probably out of contention for World Cup selection.

Aphiwe Dyantyi likely to sit out of the Rugby World Cup

Of all 3 of those players one cannot help but feel the Lions winger will be the one that the Boks will miss the most. Whiteley is a proven leader and a good player, but the Boks have Duane Vermuelen to plug that hole. Sadly at 31, this would have been his last opportunity to feature at a World Cup.

Damian Willemse was being looked at in supporting role as a backup fullback and 3rd flyhalf option for the Boks and was going to play a bit part. He would have benefitted from the experience of a World Cup, but he is only 21 and will get another opportunity.

Dyantyi on the other hand became an integral part of the Rassie Erasmus way in 2018, barring the season opener against Wales in the USA, he played every minute of Springbok rugby in 2018 and that is telling of how well he adapted into the Springbok environment.

The Springboks are not at the worst place as far as wide options are concerned, Mapimpi has performed admirably on the left wing this season. Sbu Nkosi and Cheslin Kolbe have been even better on the right wing, but none have a better understanding of the game plan like Aphiwe Dyantyi and in a team in peak form at the moment, the Lions winger would have been an even better prospect.

A good all-rounder with exciting flair

Aphiwe Dyantyi’s ability to make something out of nothing is well known and to have both Bok wings with the technical and tactical aptitude would have enhanced the Springbok cause. Aphiwe, like Kolbe at 15, played a lot of his rugby in a position that requires tactical nous – he was a flyhalf at school.

He has a good boot and has a good sense of positioning while his anticipation improved with every passing game for the Boks last season. His confidence and competitive streak are qualities you cannot buy and coach into a player.

I had a conversation with him in Port Elizabeth in the week leading up to the Wallabies Test last year, firstly I was struck by how he was ever considered too small to play rugby – he was certainly big enough.

What struck me the most though was his sheer singlemindedness, there is confidence and swagger about Dyantyi that you would always want in a team environment, it’s infectious in a way and the Boks would have benefitted from that.

The Springboks won’t only miss Dyantyi for what he brings on the field, his character off it will certainly be missed, particularly in a long tournament like the World Cup.

He started the season slow due to an ailment called a jumper’s knee, but by the end of Super Rugby he was getting back to his best on the wing, he will be fit in time for the start of the tournament, but will be short on match fitness.

As a coach, if there was one player I would take a risk on, it would be Dyantyi, but the team is in a good place and Erasmus will not want to upset the apple cart.

The Lions winger turns 25 on Monday, I’d imagine it will be bittersweet as it is the day it’ll be fully confirmed that his World Cup dream is over. He will be missed.