As the Springboks head towards the start of the Rugby Championship, there is no doubt that Rassie Erasmus will want to continue exposing some ‘new talents’ in the Test arena.
With 10 more Tests remaining this year, Erasmus has explained how he would like to increase the game-time of several players who have only single digits in terms of caps.
One of those is undoubtedly Edwill van der Merwe, who has only played in three Tests to date, but who continues to shoot the lights out every time he takes to the field.
The 29-year-old has already racked up five tries in those three games, and this impact should not be underestimated despite playing against ‘weaker’ opposition such as Wales, Italy and Georgia.
Perhaps it is the quality of the opposition that has played a part in Van der Merwe not receiving his ‘flowers’ from fans, but the Rugby Championship undoubtedly presents an opportunity for the experienced outside back to make his mark in a competition where there is sure to be more attention.
The Lions playmaker has looked confident and composed every time he has taken to the field, impressing not only with his attacking exploits, but also his work rate and appetite on defence despite his small stature.
Van der Merwe is a player very much in the mould of first-choice wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and the Springboks will be thrilled to have another player breaking through to offer back-up if one of them might need a rest, or pick up an injury.
Keep an eye on Van der Merwe in this Rugby Championship season. He has surely earned a chance to show what he can do against one of the Springboks’ southern hemisphere rivals, and overdue praise and plaudits could then finally be set to follow.
“It was always my biggest goal to play for the Springboks,” he recently commented. “When I earned my first cap, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t just play one game.”
And when quizzed about whether having to compete against the likes of Kolbe and Arendse for a place in the team placed pressure on him, Van der Merwe said it’s an honour to train with them each day.
“Personally I try to learn as much as I can from them and implement some of those tips and small things into my game,” he added.
LATEST SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR THE START OF THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE POTENTIAL OF EDWILL VAN DER MERWE?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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