Stormers coach Robbie Fleck believes Dillyn Leyds is showing the kind of form that made him a Springbok back in 2017.
With nine international caps to his name, Leyds made his debut in the Green and Gold against France in that year.
His Bok career then also ended in the final match of 2017 when they lost to Wales and then-coach Allister Coetzee was given the trekpas.
The utility back has not been part of new coach Rassie Erasmus’ plans to date but has been banging down the Bok door again with his performances for the Stormers on their tour of Australasia.
And with the World Cup around the corner, Fleck believes he is hitting form at just the right time.
IMPRESSED: Boss Robbie Fleck. Photo: Daniel Pockett/EPA.
Fleck explains: “With Dill [Leyds] it’s all about game time and getting used to playing regularly and building that confidence.
“If you think back two years ago, he was outstanding and that’s when he got that Springbok call-up. Remember that Chiefs game with that offload, I feel that he is finding that form again.
“I felt that this tour he was outstanding when he moved to the wing - I think especially in the Blues game he created a lot of opportunities out wide and controlled things nicely.
“Against the Rebels, he just pounced on the opportunities. I felt that he had an outstanding tour, so he is really finding some form, which is important for us in the backline.
“That’s why we’ve been reluctant to make necessary changes to the backline - we’ve found a bit of confidence in the backline on this tour.”
One change a number of fans have been calling for is at flyhalf where Jean-Luc du Plessis has not been at his best this year.
CHANCE: No.10 Joshua Stander. Photo: Chris Ricco/Backpagepix.
And Fleck admits that, with the Brumbies coming to Newlands at Saturday (3.05pm), they will give Joshua Stander a place in the run-on XV soon.
He explains: “He [Stander] has been pretty effective off the bench when he’s come on - whether that’s at 10 or 12.
“It is in our minds to give him an opportunity soon. We feel that he is playing with a lot of confidence and you need to reward that at some stage.”
dudley.carstens@inl.co.za