It’s like riding a bike.
That’s what they say when you have to remember to do a task you haven’t done in a long time.
And that’s what Dillyn Leyds will be telling himself when he starts at flyhalf for the Stormers against the Blues tonight.
The talented utility back is finally beginning to show the promise that saw the Force try to poach him from the Cape.
After playing at No.10 during his school days in Strand, he will get the chance to show just what the Aussies saw back then.
From the flair with the pass and the step in his runs, it’s clear he can bring something to the No.10 position for the Stormers.
But it’s going to be a moerse test for him against the manne from Auckland.
The Stormers have struggled against New Zealand sides on the road, losing all their matches Down Under this season, while conceding 24 tries.
And the Blues will obviously look to target him and put him under pressure with the speed and aggression of their
defensive line.
I doubt that coach Robbie Fleck will give him licence to nail down the spot for his own.
But he’s an intelligent player who showed that he does possess the boot to turn defences around.
Against the Kiwis, who use a variation on rush defence as their main rearguard strategy, Leyds can put pressure on the Blues with the sort of chip and cross-kicks he watches
Hurricanes’ superstar Beauden Barrett execute.
It’s going to be tough on him, but he will have his pals SP Marais, Seabelo Senatla and Cheslin Kolbe to unleash from behind him to spark the
Stormers.
But it will all start with Leyds not giving away possession, though.
His distribution will have to be better than he’s shown this season.
He has worked hard on his kicking in the past but the recruitment of SP Marais at the start of the season showed that the Stormers bosses don’t have faith in his ability with the boot to be a truly world-class fullback.
He has done well on the wing this season, so much so that he has worked his way into Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s plans.
So the extra confidence of a good game today will do him the world of good going into the international break where he will be hoping Coetzee allows him to have a crack at the French.