Edwill van der Merwe: I didn't want to be a one-cap Springbok
Image: BackpagePix
On Saturday afternoon in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Edwill van der Merwe will breathe a big sigh of relief when he takes to the field in the second Test against Italy.
The speedy winger will run out for Springbok cap number two after waiting over a year to don the green and gold again. He last played against Wales at Twickenham in June 2024, where he made his debut. Now, Van der Merwe will get to live his boyhood dream again.
After injuries curtailed his international dream last season, he wondered if he would stay a one-Test Bok. That will not be the case come Saturday as he is set to take on the Azzurri alongside Springbok veteran Willie le Roux, who will be playing in his 100th Test, and fellow winger Makazole Mapimpi in an exciting back-three for the duel (5.10 pm start).
'The biggest goal was to play for the Springboks and when I got my first cap, I told myself I didn't want to be a one-cap Bok,' Van der Merwe said.
'So, to get this opportunity again, I am very grateful. I know it is only through the grace of God that I am sitting here again. I think it's almost a year and a month later that I am getting this opportunity, so I'm looking forward to Saturday.'
He had a strong debut against Wales and showed, with some neat touches, that he belonged on the international stage. The try he scored beating a couple of defenders at Twickenham will always be one to remember. He also made a couple of try-saving tackles, and showed that he is willing to put his body on the line for the world champions.
However, an ankle injury kept him on the sidelines and with the strong competition in the Bok squad, he missed out on selection for the Boks' unbeaten Year-end tour to Europe. Strong showings for the Lions in the United Rugby Championship brought him back into the picture. He has swapped the Johannesburg side for a move to the Sharks and Durban recently.
It will be his first Test on South African soil, but he will lean on the experience of Le Roux and Mapimpi.
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Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The action started at the kick-off already, where a pre-worked-out short kick from flyhalf Manie Libbok caught everyone off guard, even the Italians. No one knew that start was coming, except of course the Boks, and it resulted in a scrum. 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