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Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Why Lions' top try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe is not getting a look-in under Andy Farrell
With just a Sydney dead-rubber left for the British and Irish Lions, those who simply study the data would be forgiven for thinking that Duhan van der Merwe has been among the stars of 2025. The 30-year-old has plundered five tries, bringing his tally to 10 across two tours. That puts him top of the tree among his squad mates. According to Stats Perform, he has amassed 336 metres with ball in hand. Huw Jones is next, with 287 metres despite seeing 46 minutes more game-time. Only Tommy Freeman and Sione Tuipulotu, with 17, have beaten more than the 16 defenders that Van der Merwe has brushed aside and the latter is also second for line-breaks (one behind Mack Hansen) with six. And yet, his prospects of repeating the three Test starts granted to him by Warren Gatland in South Africa four years ago have seemed remote since the outset. Ahead of a final meeting with Australia on Saturday, it would appear more likely for Blair Kinghorn to replace James Lowe on the left wing than it would to see Van der Merwe in action. Hansen is also back in contention after injury and likely above him in the pecking order. As a player leading Scotland's all-time scoring list with 32 tries in 49 Tests, he will be remembered with great fondness whatever else happens in his career. But the past few weeks will have been difficult. Unforgiving context Van der Merwe's chances of a fast start were compromised by ankle ligament damage that required surgery in April and meant that the Lions' opener against Argentina was his first outing in almost three months. He looked understandably rusty because of that lay-off. His next game against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium represented a blend of dangerous running and positional uncertainty. Then, four days later, Van der Merwe was drafted onto the bench for a disjointed win over the Waratahs. Henry Pollock's tight calf saw Scott Cummings come into the starting side as Tadhg Beirne shifted to blindside flanker. Van der Merwe joined the replacements and wore the No 20, a sure-fire sign of how late the decision was made and an indication that numbers 22 and 23 had been sized up for Marcus Smith and Ben White. After coming on for Hugo Keenan for the final half-hour, Van der Merwe could not impress himself on the match. On the last play, he took a looping pass from Kinghorn and was shepherded towards the touchline by several defenders before the ball squirted out of a messy ruck. The moment encapsulated both an unconvincing display from the Lions and how Van der Merwe's Test hopes were dwindling: Some have suggested that Van der Merwe was lucky to be selected for the initial squad on May 8 but his pedigree and Lions experience will have been hard to ignore. Andy Farrell evidently wanted size in the back three and Van der Merwe was particularly impressive in Scotland's 27-13 victory over the Wallabies last November. He scored a trademark try out wide… …and burst through Australia from a hidden inside pass move: This was something the Lions attempted themselves from a goal-line drop-out in the first Test, with the Wallabies snuffing it out: Good work from Nick Champion de Crespigny to get across to Hugo Keenan: — Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) July 19, 2025 Indeed, with Finn Russell and Sione Tuipulotu certainties to tour, Farrell had scope to lean on the familiarity of a potent Scotland back line. Although modern wings men roam around the field, they tend to have a preferred side of the pitch that is dependent on factors such as their favoured foot to step off. Van der Merwe is a specialist left wing. Remarkably, according to All Rugby, he has only once worn a No 14 shirt in his professional career; in a Top 14 match for Montpellier against Racing 92 in 2017. In that respect, Van der Merwe was probably not competing against the unfortunate Darcy Graham for a place in the initial Lions squad. Graham, normally a right wing, could have been edged out by Hansen. Once the group assembled, Van der Merwe was up against James Lowe, a favourite of Farrell's from their time together with Ireland. Having started the past two Top 14 finals on the left wing for Toulouse, Kinghorn became another potential candidate for the 11 shirt. Van der Merwe needed to be at his most devastating. Pros and cons As early as the sixth minute against Argentina, there was a reminder of Van der Merwe's athleticism as he stepped off his left foot and carved through the Pumas: He flipped an overhead offload to Tommy Freeman a little later and slipped off a tackle early in the second half before linking with Bundee Aki: It is interesting to note that Van der Merwe has registered all five of his tries in Australia on the Lions left. Here against the Australia and New Zealand (AUNZ) invitational outfit, for instance, he is on hand to capitalise on the attack sparked by Hugo Keenan's quick line-out: Later in the same game, Van der Merwe caps his hat-trick on the end of a slick first-phase move that outflanks the defence: This try, against the Reds, was probably the most difficult finish and requires him to dot down in a tight space amid the attention of opposing full-back Jock Campbell: While it might be tempting to downplay this propensity for apparently easy tries, it is worth remembering that Lowe missed a similar chance against the Brumbies. As an outlet capable of surging into space, few are better than Van der Merwe. Scotland feed width readily to tap into that asset. Recent weeks have also showcased less assured areas of Van der Merwe's game. The Reds clearly targeted his back-field positioning. This Hunter Paisami cross-kick caused problems before Van der Merwe rescued himself… …and Kalani Thomas set up a try for Josh Flook with a grubber towards the same wing: Les Kiss, the Reds boss, also coached AUNZ in Adelaide. Forcing Van der Merwe to turn was a pillar of his strategy again, as suggested by Tane Edmed probing in behind from this early line-out: Van der Merwe loses his composure here and was fortunate that the ball bobbles into touch to give the Lions a line-out – the kick did not qualify for a 50:22 – because his actions would otherwise have conceded a five-metre scrum. As for kicking itself, a necessary skill for back three players, Van der Merwe is not a natural. Whereas Lowe's left boot has been predictably prominent, accounting for 416 metres from 11 kicks, Van der Merwe has hit a solitary strike all tour – after AUNZ had again found space in behind him: This tour, during which Andy Farrell has implemented systems reminiscent of those that characterise his Ireland team, has reinforced how coaches will back trusted individuals – and those who suit their methods – to deliver. Van der Merwe always faced a tricky task. Farrell's preferences Wings under Andy Farrell are granted licence to fizz around the field. While this table using data from Stats Perform is not bulletproof, because it is taken from multiple games and possession shares will have varied, it can broadly show us how much four Lions wings – Hansen, Tommy Freeman, James Lowe and Van der Merwe – have been around the ball. Hansen has been around the ball most, either carrying or hitting a ruck once every 2.8 minutes he has been on the field. Van der Merwe is fourth of the four: Freeman (15 defensive rucks across 390 minutes) and Hansen (13 defensive rucks in 270 minutes) have also grafted at the breakdown on the other side of the ball. This is not to say Van der Merwe has not come off his wing. The Lions have asked him to swing around from strike plays such as this one against the First Nations and Pasifika XV: However, with the best will in the world, it would be a surprise to see Van der Merwe set up a try like Beirne's in the second Test from first-receiver as Lowe did. The fact that Jamison Gibson-Park feeds Lowe rather than Keenan in the first place underscores their relationship: Kinghorn was off his wing and into the opposite 15-metre channel as soon as he had replaced Lowe. This cut-out pass to Keenan punctuated the first phase of the winning attack: Freeman, like Lowe adept at contesting high-balls, has continuously roamed. As pointed out by Kevin Millar, he burrowed into rucks on opposite touchlines in the build-up to Keenan's last-gasp try. It is not that Van der Merwe is incapable of this, just that others seem to do so more impulsively. Much earlier in the second Test, just beyond the half-hour mark with the Lions trailing 23-5, Lowe and Freeman contributed to a key moment. From a left-hand scrum, Bundee Aki attempts to launch Huw Jones but a flat tip-pass ricochets off Len Ikitau. Lowe reacts brilliantly and keeps the attack moving with a pass to Keenan, who sends Freeman charging into contact: A strong carry, with the help of Keenan's latch, ends up metres from the try-line and foreshadows Tom Curry's crucial finish. No doubt Lowe's awareness will have been heralded by the Lions coaches this week. What next? Van der Merwe's response to this tour will be intriguing. Graham and Kinghorn, one suspects, would be shoo-ins for any Scotland side. There is fierce competition developing for back-three spots, though. Kyle Steyn, exceptional in the air, is a reliable operator. Kyle Rowe, Harry Paterson and Arron Reed all had bright moments on the summer tour. Besides Rowe and Ollie Smith, Tom Jordan and Fergus Burke could be considered as potential full-backs that shift Kinghorn to the wing. Van der Merwe will be eager to begin the 2025-26 campaign strongly for Edinburgh to assure himself of action over autumn fixtures against USA, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga. As with other Lions colleagues, how he moves on from the tour may be more significant than what has happened in Australia.
The South African
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Is this underrated Springbok getting enough credit?
As the Springboks head towards the start of the Rugby Championship, there is no doubt that Rassie Erasmus will want to continue exposing some 'new talents' in the Test arena. With 10 more Tests remaining this year, Erasmus has explained how he would like to increase the game-time of several players who have only single digits in terms of caps. One of those is undoubtedly Edwill van der Merwe, who has only played in three Tests to date, but who continues to shoot the lights out every time he takes to the field. The 29-year-old has already racked up five tries in those three games, and this impact should not be underestimated despite playing against 'weaker' opposition such as Wales, Italy and Georgia. Perhaps it is the quality of the opposition that has played a part in Van der Merwe not receiving his 'flowers' from fans, but the Rugby Championship undoubtedly presents an opportunity for the experienced outside back to make his mark in a competition where there is sure to be more attention. The Lions playmaker has looked confident and composed every time he has taken to the field, impressing not only with his attacking exploits, but also his work rate and appetite on defence despite his small stature. Van der Merwe is a player very much in the mould of first-choice wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and the Springboks will be thrilled to have another player breaking through to offer back-up if one of them might need a rest, or pick up an injury. Keep an eye on Van der Merwe in this Rugby Championship season. He has surely earned a chance to show what he can do against one of the Springboks' southern hemisphere rivals, and overdue praise and plaudits could then finally be set to follow. 'It was always my biggest goal to play for the Springboks,' he recently commented. 'When I earned my first cap, I wanted to make sure that I didn't just play one game.' And when quizzed about whether having to compete against the likes of Kolbe and Arendse for a place in the team placed pressure on him, Van der Merwe said it's an honour to train with them each day. 'Personally I try to learn as much as I can from them and implement some of those tips and small things into my game,' he added. Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
'It's something you dream of as a kid,' says new Bok Marnus van der Merwe
Marnus van der Merwe scored two tries against Georgia on his official Springbok debut in his home town, Mbombela, on Saturday night. Springbok debutant Marnus van der Merwe said facing up to powerful and intimidating teammates Ox Nche and Wilco Louw helped sufficiently prepare him for the physicality brought by Georgia during the Boks' 55-10 win over the eastern Europeans at the Mbombela Stadium over the weekend. Van der Merwe, who received his first official Springbok cap, after he first wore the green and gold in the non-Test against the visiting Barbarians in Cape Town a few weeks ago, said that the debutants were well prepared thanks to the tough training they went through in the build up to the Test. It was also a dream start for the hooker, as he scored twice off the back of dominant rolling mauls, during his 44 minutes on the field before he was replaced early in the second half. 'The Georgians are definitely physical. But we train against guys like Ox (Nche), Wilco (Louw) and others like that, so we know what is physical. We make training as hard as we can to make sure we implement (what we want) in the game,' explained Van der Merwe. 'So it was definitely a physical match. But I think we trained hard enough during the week that we were well prepared for that. But we will properly reflect on the game next week.' Special game It was also an extra special game for the new Bok hooker as it was in his home town, with Van der Merwe having been born in Mbombela and attending Hoërskool Nelspruit. He represented the Pumas during his school career, before moving on to the Cheetahs and then Scarlets last year. 'It's something that's still sinking in and something that you look at and say wow it's actually happening. It's something you dream of as a kid. I was just taking it (the occasion) all in and letting it sink in,' said Van der Merwe about a home debut and the atmosphere. 'I think tomorrow morning (Sunday) I will actually stand up and tell my wife, 'listen, I am actually a Springbok'. So I am still processing it.' With him having played in Wales over the past franchise rugby season, Van der Merwe was asked how different it was training with the Boks, compared to what he experienced with Scarlets. 'The Springboks are number one, because of how hard we train and prepare. I don't think any club can come close to Test rugby (level) training. So it is definitely different (to what I experience in Wales with Scarlets),' he said. 'But I think that the intensity (training) is one of the things that surprises you when you get onto the field. And then how hard you actually work at scrums and mauls and that sort of stuff to get you ready for a game. You work harder at training to be better when it comes to the match.'
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks crush Georgia 55–10 as debutants shine in Mbombela
The Springboks made it three out of three, both in their head-to-head record against Georgia and in their first three Test matches of the season, when they beat the eastern European side 55–10 at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. It wasn't a perfect display, but the South Africans never gave Georgia enough momentum to give them hope of a favourable result. Despite three debutants and a player in his second Test playing in a brand new position, the experience of the South Africans showed. Here are a few talking points from the game, by The Citizen. Debutants rise to the occasion Props Boan Venter and Neethling Fouché, and hooker Marnus van der Merwe were all selected in their maiden Test match. During the week, coach Rassie Erasmus said he was happy to back the trio due to the experience of the rest of the pack as well as those on the bench. Captain Siya Kolisi echoed these thoughts, saying the three forwards had 'nothing to fear' because of the support behind them. The forwards rewarded the faith shown in them. Venter and Van der Merwe both crashed over the line for the Boks' first three tries (two for Van der Merwe). The trio also found momentum in the scrums as the game went on. By the time they all came off in the 44th mintute, they had showed glimpses of of how they could become a working unit. They each need more game time to tell for sure. Different combinations will also be important. Cobus Wiese playing at eight Playing in just his second Test match, Cobus Wiese, who normally features at lock or flank, started for the first time in his professional rugby career at No 8. This came about due to a positional shortage left by the injured Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw and Jean-Luc du Preez, and suspended Jasper Wiese (Cobus' brother). However, the decision was unexpected because specialist eighthman Evan Roos missed out on selection, and Kolisi, who plays No 8 for the Sharks, also wasn't considered. In the end, Wiese didn't have enough opportunities with ball in hand to make a good assement. Again, he will need more game time in the position to see if it is suited for him. But one wonders if Roos or Kolisi might have done more to make an impact with the few opportunities they had. Backline on fire Grant Williams, Canan Moodie and Edwill van der Merwe shone in a game where fast running rugby dominated the kicking. Their gap-taking was exceptional on the night and it was hard to say any one player was better than the others. Van der Merwe (two tries against Georgia following two against Italy last week) was sublime. Strange as it sounds, Cheslin Kolbe was almost not missed these past two games. Williams was fantastic dancing through defenders, which led to tries for others, while Moodie both created and scored. Aphelele Fassi, Damian Willemse (one try) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (one try) were also good. Questions around goal-kicking? Last week, Manie Libbok missed his first two conversions against Italy but slotted the next five. This time, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed his first three conversions against Georgia but slotted his next one, and missed his last before being substituted for Handré Pollard. One kick from five leaves much to be desired for a player of his calibre though to be fair, most were tough kicks. Pollard, ever dependable, stepped in and nailed all four of his conversions. The Springbok flyhalf also scored a try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu is normally consistant in front on poles, and Libbok might be getting there, but Pollard cannot be the only dependable option going forward. The two need to step up. Or perhaps is there a chance for Jordan Hendrikse?
IOL News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Error-ridden Springboks stumble in Mbombela as feisty Georgia make a statement
SPRINGBOK lock DG Snyman going against a bruising Georgia wal as they were Tested by in Mbombela in their final outing before the Rugby Championship. | BackpagePix Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will be unsure whether to laugh or cry as his team were poor and wonderful in equal measure on their way to beating Georgia 55-10 in Mbombela on Saturday night. Either way, the Boks were put through a serious examination by the Lelos, and perhaps it was the ideal way for the Boks to finish their four-match block of games that warm them up for the Rugby Championship, which kicks off in a month. Ideal because they will know they are some way off their best form, and a mountain of improvement is required if they are to beat the All Blacks in Auckland on September 6, the match which is the climax of the Boks' international season. We know the Georgians are tough — their national sport is wrestling — but few could have predicted that the double world champions would be forced into their most unconvincing start to a match in years. It was not easy on the eye for the 40,000 in the Mbombela Stadium as the Lelos blasted out of the blocks. Captain Siya Kolisi was bowled over in a frenzied forward assault and went off for a concussion assessment. Kwagga Smith was on for Kolisi after a minute and a half. He had just taken his place when the visitors silenced the stadium with a perfectly executed try off the back of a maul, with hooker Vano Karkadze granted the score even though the TV replay showed that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had got his hands underneath the ball. Georgia hadn't received the memo that they would be little more than tackle bags. It took the Boks ten minutes to settle, and two tries were scored by debutants in quick succession, both from close quarters. First prop Boan Venter crashed over, and then local boy Marnus van der Merwe went over off the back of a lineout. In the 13th minute, Kolisi returned and was on hand to see Van der Merwe score. Georgia almost scored again, this time from a slick backline movement, with a flying cover tackle by Aphelele Fassi saving the day. The Boks' third try was a beauty. A magnificent backline movement, replete with nifty passing, produced a clean break by Grant Williams, and then Canan Moodie finished powerfully, replicating his effort from Gquberha the week before when he took two defenders on his back. Feinberg-Mngomezulu sent his third consecutive conversion attempt wide. Penalties were flowing the way of the eastern Europeans as their pressure told on the Boks. They were shrugging off the defensive intensity of the Boks, and as the half-hour mark approached, they won a penalty for Luka Matkava to kick over for a 15-10 scoreline to the Boks. Van der Merwe scored his second, again off the tail of a rolling maul, to give the Boks a dubious 22-10 lead at half time. The first try of the second half was scored by Edwill van der Merwe, his fourth try in his third match for his country. It came from a bulldozing effort by Pieter-Steph du Toit in the Georgia 22m, and a long pass by Williams saw Van der Merwe run the try in. Handre Pollard replaced the off-colour Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the 55th minute, and one of his first actions was to put Damian Willemse through a gap for a try off a scrum near the Georgia line. Faf de Klerk was on for Williams, and what a fantastic cameo he enjoyed as he fights for his place in the greater Springbok squad. He was like a terrier on steroids as he buzzed about the field, his old home ground when he was with the Pumas. And with seven minutes remaining, he nudged a kick over the defence in the Georgia 22 for Edwill van der Merwe to gather and score his second. With time up on the clock, the Boks showed great ambition to run from their tryline, with Pollard scoring in the last movement of the match. Scorers Springboks — Tries: Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe (2), Canan Moodie, Edwill van der Merwe (2), Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Handre Pollard (3). Georgia — Try: Vano Karkadze. Conversion. Luka Matkava. Penalty: Matkava.
