'I couldn't have picked a better team': Bok says goodbye to influential coaches
SPOTLIGHT: As his time in Llanelli comes to an end, Marnus van der Merwe has paid tribute to the players and coaches who helped him become a Springbok.
The 29-year-old will say goodbye to Scarlets at the end of the season as he prepares for a new chapter in his career in Ireland with Munster.
Van der Merwe joined the Welsh region from the Cheetahs ahead of the 2024/2025 season, and he made a big impression with his performances.
He was rewarded with a Springbok call-up, and he marked his international debut with two tries against Georgia last July.
Van der Merwe also helped the Springboks to the Rugby Championship title, featuring in the wins over New Zealand and Australia.
The bulldozing hooker says the Scarlets laid the foundations for him to make the step up to Test rugby.
“Looking back at it, a lot of stuff happened in the year and a half that I’ve been here,” Van der Merwe said in an interview with the BBC.
“A lot of good happened, more good to me personally.”
“I’m grateful for Scarlets and everyone that supported me – the team, fans, all of them. I’m grateful for each and every one.
“Even coaches that were hard on me, players that were hard on me, they made me the player who I am now. I’m very happy – I couldn’t have picked a better club to be at.”
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Two debutants, two tries😏🇿🇦
Marnus van der Merwe gets on the scoresheet 🤌
📺 Stream #RSAvGEO on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/xRifOwuTeD
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 19, 2025
On the environment in Llanelli, Van der Merwe added: “The players here have stepped up, and they helped me improve as much as I helped them.
“We were hard on each other and tried to leave the jersey in a better place than we found it.”
The Scarlets have Dwayne Peel as their head coach with former Springbok lock Albert van den Berg serving as the forwards coach.
They are two members of a coaching team who have pushed Van der Merwe to new heights.
“The coaching staff helped me achieve my dream, and every step from the start I joined here, they told me they wanted to push to get me there,” he said.
“I’m grateful every step of the way for actually achieving that and making my dream come true, so I’m grateful for Scarlets for doing that. I’ll never forget this place.”
With only 23 log points from 15 games this season, the Scarlets are already out of the United Rugby Championship play-off race with three rounds remaining.
However, Van der Merwe will still be going full tilt to help his team end the season with a flourish, starting with a tough outing against the Bulls at Parc y Scarlets.
“They’re loaded with Springboks, a lot of good players, a lot of physical players,” said Van der Merwe.
“They’re the favourites, so we as a team just go out there as the underdogs.
“They are a good scrummaging side, a good mauling side, good ball runners, tough tackling and very physical.
“We just need to step up physically, make sure we are in the game physically, then you will have a good game at hand.”
Source: BBC
