AUDIO: Road back to Boks starts now for Lions wing
AUDIO: Edwill van der Merwe’s road back to the Springboks starts this weekend in the United Rugby Championship against Edinburgh and the star wing says he has picked himself up before and will do so again.
The 28-year-old Lions wing burst onto the international Test scene when he made his debut for the Springboks against Wales at Twickenham, but an ankle injury brought everything to a screeching halt.
He was the star of the show in that June Test match, scoring a try, and walked away with the official Man of the Match award after the game.
He was rewarded for his consistent performances for the Lions and he is now back to show he hasn’t lost any of his attacking touches to score spectacular tries as he is ready to face Edinburgh at Ellis Park this weekend.
Having to compete with world-class wings like Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Makazole Mapimpi, and Canan Moodie is a tough ask.
But it is one that Van der Merwe did before and is set to do again to show he still has what it takes to play at the highest level despite the six-week layoff to recover from the injury he picked up in the Currie Cup.
The strongly built wing grew up in the small town of Kylemore outside of Stellenbosch and starred for Maties in the Varsity Cup, helping them to two titles in 2018 and 2019.
But it took a move from Cape Town to Gauteng to help bring him within reach of higher honours.
His exploits earned him a Stormers contract shortly after, but it’s at the resurgent Lions where van der Merwe has truly flourished. The Johannesburg franchise’s attacking gameplan has played right into the rapid outside back’s hands.
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Not deterred by the setback, Van der Merwe said he has picked himself up after disappointments before and will do so again.
“I’ve been through enough disappointments in my life to know how to pick myself up and that’s just the process of believing in yourself.
“Getting an opportunity this weekend, I don’t put too much pressure on myself.
“I am just enjoying myself because I know that’s when I play my best rugby.
“This weekend is just about going back to basics, enjoying myself, playing with a smile, and eventually I hope to score some tries,” Van der Merwe said.
