The numbers don’t lie: Why the Stormers’ attack needs Hacjivah Dayimani back

The return of Hacjivah Dayimani could be the panacea the Stormers' ailing attack needs, as the speedy loose forward is tipped for an imminent return to Cape Town after a spell in France.

Racing92 confirmed his departure on Wednesday, thanking the South African for his service to the club, saying it was a mutual agreement to terminate his contract early.

A club statement read: “This decision, made for personal reasons, will allow the South African flanker to return to South Africa to be with his family. Having always maintained exemplary conduct towards the club and his teammates, Racing 92 gave its approval to facilitate this early departure.”

Dayimani (28) is set for a spectacular comeback at DHL Stadium — the venue where he helped the Stormers secure the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) title — and the Cape side might need him more than they realise.

Apart from grappling with a mini lock crisis at the moment, the John Dobson-coached outfit’s attack is not firing as it once did. Dayimani played a massive role in the team’s transition and counter-attacking threat, and his presence could reignite that spark.

While there have been some entertaining victories — such as the 35-0 drubbing of Leinster in the Mother City and the 34-0 win over the Scarlets in Wales — the Stormers’ try-scoring exploits have dried up in recent weeks, particularly in the losing double-header against the Sharks.

They face a real uphill battle to revive their attacking prowess, and the availability of Dayimani could help turn things around.

Currently, the Stormers’ attacking stats are not matching their potential. They have scored 274 points this season, consisting of 34 tries, with only 3,093 metres gained, 172 defenders beaten and 65 clean breaks.

Compare that to the top URC teams — Glasgow Warriors (310 points, 45 tries, 5 049 metres gained, 292 defenders beaten and 90 clean breaks), Leinster (301 points, 44 tries, 4 615 metres gained, 209 defenders beaten and 92 clean breaks) and Ulster (302 points, 42 tries, 4 002 metres gained, 243 defenders beaten and 97 clean breaks) — and the Stormers’ numbers look underwhelming.

However, they are still third on the URC log, so it is not all doom and gloom.

That said, they will have to find a solution over the next two weeks to address recent concerns, particularly their inability to score four or more tries in their URC derbies. It started against the Bulls in Cape Town and was repeated twice against the Sharks. Meanwhile, the Durbanites claimed a full house of 10 log points against the Stormers.

The Cape side will be desperate to turn things around soon, starting with the clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 28.

Ellis Park is a well-known hunting ground for Dayimani, and he could be the player they turn to in order to revive their attacking fortunes. With the teams below them closing in, bonus points — even losing ones for scoring four tries — could prove crucial in deciding the SA Shield winners and maintaining the Stormers’ position near the top of the URC standings.

Fixing their stuttering attack would be a strong first step — and the flamboyant loose forward could hold the key.

While an announcement on Dayimani is yet to be made, the Stormers confirmed they signed flyhalf Jurie Matthee for a further three seasons. He will stay in Cape Town and will be a crucial cog in the Project 2029 ambitions.

Matthee has been good for the Cape side in the absence of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse and played an important role in their early unbeaten run. He is currently the top points scorer in the URC on 78 points.

“I grew up dreaming about pulling on this jersey and playing for this team. Since coming into the environment I have grown as a player and look forward to seeing where this journey takes me. I feel blessed to represent this club and our fans. The vision that we have here for the future is incredibly exciting and I am so glad I get to be a part of it,” Matthee said.