Two milestones await Edwill van der Merwe at Loftus
SPOTLIGHT: Saturday’s Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld presents Edwill van der Merwe with a chance to tick off two firsts while making another compelling case for a permanent place in the Springbok squad.
The Sharks wing will face Scotland for the first time in his career and will also make his first Springbok appearance at Loftus as South Africa look to build on last week’s emphatic 45-21 victory over England in the Nations Championship.
It also marks an important return for the 30-year-old, who will earn his first Test cap in almost a year after injury interrupted his momentum in the green and gold.
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Despite only five Test appearances, Van der Merwe has made an immediate impact whenever selected, scoring five tries. He crossed twice against Italy and also dotted down against Australia, Georgia and Wales, failing to score in only one of his internationals (against Australia).
The speedster will also come up against a familiar face in Scotland’s Kyle Steyn, a former teammate at Stellenbosch University.
“We played together at Stellenbosch University, so we’ve known each other for quite some time,” he said.
“It will be good to play against him this weekend.”
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Van der Merwe says the Springbok environment keeps everyone focused on the bigger picture rather than individual disappointment and he says he values the competition from the host of rated wings around him.
“The coaching team cultivates an environment where you know precisely where you fit in and what the plans are,” he said.
“Everyone knows the team comes first, so if you aren’t playing, there isn’t really time to feel sorry for yourself. Rather, you focus on what you can do for the team and how you can help the guy who is playing.
“When your opportunity comes, you must grab it with both hands.”
The experienced wing also believes South Africa’s regular United Rugby Championship battles against Scottish opposition have given the Springboks a valuable insight into what to expect this weekend.
“Our advantage is that we play in the URC regularly against the Scots who will be playing this weekend,” Van der Merwe said.
“I’ve played a few times against the wings who could possibly play. The coaching staff also have excellent profiles on the opposition players, so we know precisely what is coming.
“They prepare us really well. At the end of the day, it’s about how we execute during the match.”
