Another South African gets Scotland call-up
NATIONS CUP NEWS: Jaco van der Walt is the latest South African to join the Scotland squad.
Van der Walt will link up with the national side for the final Nations Cup match against as yet unknown opponents next weekend.
The 26-year-old recently qualified for selection on the residency rule, having been in Scotland since 2017.
Scotland squad update 🏴@EdinburghRugby stand-off Jaco van der Walt is the only addition to Scotland’s @autumnnations squad, as the players return to training later this week ahead of Finals Weekend on 5/6 December. pic.twitter.com/7NBF82U8MU
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 25, 2020
He joins three other fellow South Africans – WP Nel, Oli Kebble and Duhan van der Merwe – in the Scotland squad.
The former Lions flyhalf is expected to start training with Gregor Townsend’s side now that he has completed his quarantine period after a trip home to South Africa to get married.
Van der Walt’s international call-up means he will not be available for Edinburgh’s next PRO14 match against Ulster next Monday.
Edinburgh Rugby coach Richard Cockerill said that even though he will be without Van der Walt for the crucial Ulster match, he was delighted at the news.
“He won’t play for us on Monday as he’ll be preparing hopefully to be involved with Scotland on Saturday,” Cockerill told Edinburgh News.
“He has worked really hard at his game and is very committed to wanting to play for Scotland. We’re very proud we have another player in the squad who’ll get another opportunity in a week or so,”
Van der Walt will give Scotland another option at flyhalf, given that Townsend’s team are currently without both Finn Russell and Adam Hastings due to injuries. Duncan Weir played there in the last two matches, against Italy and France.
The Scotts are expected to finish second in Nations Cup Group B, setting up a playoff match against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, December 5.
