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Reports: Banned Springboks wing targets comeback with Sharks

(Photo by Action Foto Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Banned Springboks wing Aphiwe Dytantyi could soon be set for a career lifeline, three years after being suspended from all rugby.

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Dyantyi was given a four-year ban from all forms of the game in December 2020 after testing positive to illegal performance-enhancing substances in July 2019.

However, while the 13-test international’s suspension won’t lapse until next August, he is free to train with teams six months before the end of his ban.

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That means Dyantyi will be available to link up with teams in a training capacity from next February, and recent reports out of South Africa have linked him with a move to the Sharks.

According to Independent Online, Dyantyi’s move to the Sharks looks “increasingly certain” following the departure of fellow Springboks wing Sbu Nkosi to the Bulls.

That report follows news from Rapport last month that the former Lions flyer has already relocated to Durban, where he is reportedly working and training ahead of an anticipated comeback in the United Rugby Championship.

Dyantyi’s ban from the rugby world came on the back of a debut international campaign in which he started in all 13 of South Africa’s tests in 2018 and went on to be crowned World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.

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The last of his test appearances came against Wales in Cardiff during South Africa’s 2018 end-of-year tour, but the 27-year-old outlined is intent on returning to action in an Instagram post published in February.

“This year marks three years out of the game. A very challenging three years coupled with tears, rebuilding, love and laughter,” Dyantyi wrote.

“A trial and error period in my life, but two business projects down the line, I wouldn’t change anything about my life journey. The support has been both heartwarming and humbling (THANK YOU).

“I find myself in a privileged position of building beyond rugby and focusing on getting back on the field, and get back I will…

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Tom 1 hour ago
England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

That 2019 performance was literally the peak in attacking rugby under Eddie. If you thought that was underwhelming, the rest of it was garbage.


I totally get what you're saying and England don't need or have any God given right to the best coaches in the world... But I actually think the coaches we do have are quite poor and for the richest union in the world, that's not good enough. 


England are competitive for sure but with the talent pool up here and the funds available, we should be in the top 3. At the very least we should be winning six nations titles on a semi-regular basis. If Ireland can, England definitely should.


England's attack coach (Richard Wigglesworth) is Borthwick's mate from his playing days at Saracens, who he brought to Leicester with him when he became coach. Wigglesworth was a 9 who had no running or passing game, but was the best box kicker in the business. He has no credentials to be an attack coach and I've seen nothing to prove otherwise. Aside from Marcus Smith’s individual brilliance, our collective attack has looked very uninspiring.

 

England's defence coach (Joe El-Abd) is Borthwick's housemate from uni, who has never been employed as a defence coach before. He's doing the job part time while he's still the head coach of a team in the second division of French rugby who have an awful defensive record. England's defence has gone from being brutally efficient under Felix Jones to as leaky as a colander almost overnight.


If Borthwick brings in a new attack and defence coach then I'll absolutely get behind him but his current coaches seem to be the product of nepotism. He's brought in people he's comfortable with because he lacks confidence as an international head coach and they aren't good enough for international rugby.


England are competitive because they do some things really well, mostly they front up physically, make a lot of big hits, have a solid kicking game, a good lineout, good maul, Marcus Smith and some solid forwards. A lot of what we do well I would ascribe to Borthwick personally. I don't think he's a bad coach, I think he lacks imagination and is overly risk averse. He needs coaches who will bring a point of difference.


I guess my point is, yes England are competitive, but we’re not aiming for competitive and I honestly don't believe this coaching setup has what it takes to make us any better than competitive.


On the plus side it looks like we have an amazing crop of young players coming through. Some of them who won the u20 world cup played for England A against Australia A on the weekend and looked incredible... Check out the highlights on youtube.

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