Watch: Duhan van der Merwe produces one of finest finishes in Six Nations history
After a half in which Scotland had been comfortably second best – the hosts trailed Ireland 17-0 with half-time approaching – they pulled a rabbit out of the hat thanks to Duhan van der Merwe, the hulking wing who crossed for one of the most acrobatic and balletic finishes this famous championship has seen.
Scotland had already lost both Finn Russell and Darcy Graham to failed HIAs and were staring down the barrel, after scores from Calvin Nash and Caelan Doris, of entering the half-time break scoreless.
That was until Van der Merwe popped up with his Superman impersonation on the left wing. It all began when Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw were penalised for sealing off on their own five-metre line, after Doris had tried to drive his side out of trouble.
Duhan van der Merwe with an outrageous finish for Scotland!Could the home side complete an unlikely comeback against Ireland?#BBCRugby #BBCSixNations pic.twitter.com/voabYOYYKk
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 9, 2025
From there, hooker Dave Cherry tapped and launched himself towards the Irish line, stopped by James Lowe. Scotland recycle and No 8 Jack Dempsey surges before the hosts spot space out wide.
Ben White fizzes a pass to Tom Jordan – at fly-half in the absence of Russell – who locates Stafford McDowall fading outside of Josh van der Flier. The replacement gets just far enough outside of the Irish flanker to force Hugo Keenan to bite in, leaving Van der Merwe free on the touchline. McDowall manages to get his arms free before the arrival of Keenan and flings a sumptuous offload out to Van der Merwe.
At that point, Scotland's left wing still had plenty to do, even five metres out with the line at his mercy. Sam Prendergast and James Ryan are tracking across to try to force Van der Merwe into touch, but he uses the touchline to his advantage.
Van der Merwe runs directly at the corner flag and leaps early, knowing that while he is airborne he can still touch the ball down and not be in touch. The flag is not in touch, remember.
Van der Merwe jumps for the corner, positioning his body out of the field of play – but, crucially, in the air – allowing him to touch the ball down with his right hand just in the field of play for one of the greatest finishes in Six Nations history.
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