Dyantyi injects fire into Lions

RUGBY may be a team sport but each unit has that one player who embodies the mental state of the team.

At the moment‚ Aphiwe Dyantyi is exactly that for the Lions.

During their 47-27 win against the Jaguares at Ellis Park on Saturday‚ the hosts were trailing 10-0 after 19 minutes and were inexplicably profligate.

From somewhere, Dyantyi provided the catalyst for the fight-back.

He then became the major rugby chemical reactant in the second half as the Lions swiftly pulled the rug from under the Jaguares’ feet.

Lions coach Swys de Bruin knows what he has in Dyantyi and wants to make sure he nurtures his talent to the fullest.

“He’s special and he had another good game‚” De Bruin said.

“I have to encourage the absolute effort to try things when it’s not on. That’s what you want.

“If we really look after him very well and make sure he earns his colours‚ he’ll become a legend.

“He’s got an honours degree‚ he’s a mature young man and he’s a clever guy. I’m very happy with him at the moment.”

Dyantyi’s superhuman efforts failed to gloss over the fact that the Lions were not quite up to their high standards.

They are two games into the season and while they are doing many things right‚ there is also the feeling they are still a work in progress.

Their scrum is fearsome and when their offloading game comes off‚ they pick out gaps no one can see.

However‚ there is still the worrying factor of Malcolm Marx’s wonky lineout radar and the final passes that did not go to hand after scything line breaks.

De Bruin said these teething issues could be fixed – but it is a case of when, because their Super Rugby schedule is not going to get easier. – TimesLIVE