Latest news with #EdwillvanderMerwe
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Electrifying Edwill feels honoured after Italy heroics
Edwill van der Merwe said Willie le Roux helped him stay calm in his second Test, which was 13 months after his debut. Edwill van der Merwe's third try was not allowed due to a forward pass. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images Springbok wing Edwill van der Merwe cut a humble and grateful figure after his man-of-the-match performance against Italy on Saturday. South Africa won the game 45–0 despite being a player down for about an hour. The 29-year-old admitted in the build-up to the game that he had told himself he would not become a one-cap Springbok. This was after 13 months had passed between his debut and his second national call-up. Edwill takes his opportunity Just as he did in his first Test, Van der Merwe dazzled fans with his footwork and put his name on the score sheet. The right wing's first try came from a scintillating dive next to the sideline in the first half. The second came from chasing a kick that bounced kindly for him as he ran around a defender. He would have scored a hat-trick if not for a Willie le Roux pass going forward. It was also his line break that led to a Grant Williams try in the first half. In short, Van der Merwe looked like the most dangerous attacking player on the field. 'It was really an honour to get my second cap,' he said. 'The guys made it easy for me. Once again, congrats to Willie [le Roux] for his 100th cap. He showed great leadership, keeping me calm.' Van der Merwe said after Jasper Wiese's red card in the 21st minute, the Springbok leadership encouraged the team at half-time to keep Italy's score at zero. '[They said] try to pull it together and give a good performance with 14 men.' Moerat praises the character of squad to smash Italy Bok captain Salmaan Moerat explained after the game that his message to players was to 'work that extra bit harder'. 'I think the boys did that. I think the boys really played hard and it clearly showed out there tonight,' he said. 'We knew the threat the Italians pose. They are a quality side. They made it really hard for us last week and this week. Especially being down one man very early in the game, I thought we did really well to show some character and pull it through.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springboks redeem themselves in Gqeberha to wrap two-Test series in against Italy
Springbok winger and Player of the Match Edwill van der Merwe dives over in the corner for one of his two tries against Italy on Saturday in Gqeberha. Image: BackpagePix Doctor Rassie Erasmus and his Springboks pulled out all the stops to entertain the crowd in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as they romped to a thrilling 45-0 victory over Italy in the second Test in Gqeberha. The seven-try win emphatically seals the two-Test series, and it opens the door for Erasmus to experiment even further against Georgia in Nelspruit in the final mid-year match this coming Saturday. Not even the 21st-minute red card to eighth man Jasper Wiese for a headbutt could spoil the enterprising play the world champions dished up in front of a capacity crowd. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. 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. Unfortunately, an early engagement didn't result in a full scrum and an opportunity for the Bok machine to lay the marker at that scrum. There were rumours that the Boks trained the kick-off move this week, but even for an Erasmus innovation, that stunt seemed a bit far-fetched. Who starts a game wanting a scrum after seconds of play? But then again, Erasmus has never had his thoughts inside the box when it comes to coaching and tactical play, and that was a proper move away from the conventional start to matches. That is outrageous. Yes, copied, but in Test rugby, you pull off that move. In the air ball and a maul and the #Springboks score #RSAvITA — Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) July 12, 2025 That little ingenuity was not all the back-to-back World Cup winners had up their sleeve, though. And they showed their hand early on. A lineout type of lift in open play to catch a pass was orchestrated in the Italian 22m area. From that catch, a maul was manufactured and led to a penalty advantage with the Italians trying to collapse it. Outside centre Canan Moodie busted through a couple of defenders to score the fourth try ahead of the break from that maul. In the second half, hooker Malcolm Marx scored off the same type of manufactured maul, with the move paying off again. Some slick backline play led to the opening try by Grant Williams, where Libbok assisted alongside winger Makazole Mapimpi, while the mercurial Bok flyhalf also had a hand in the first score of home debutant, right wing Edwill van der Merwe. Van der Merwe's second five-pointer came after a neat little chip by centurion Willie le Roux, who delivered a solid performance in his 100th Test. 🏉 ℂ𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕀𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 🏉 𝐓𝐑𝐘: The first try of the match by Grant Williams! 🇿🇦 🆚 🇮🇹 🚨 LIVE 📺 SABC 2 🌐 #Springboks #RSAvITA — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 12, 2025 Van der Merwe, named Player of the Match, chased the kick, and after a fumble by the Italians, he kicked it through and chased the ball down behind the posts to dive over. In his second try, where he was almost tackled out, Libbok threw a brilliant flat pass to get him in space to dive over in the corner. The four first-half tries were stunning, and the Gqeberha crowd lapped up every little bit of play of the world champions. After the maul try by Marx, the entertainment died down a bit on the field, especially when Erasmus brought on the substitutions systematically. Here and there, some moments of magic flared up, but it was a largely physical second half, coupled with box kicks that the Boks chased with a lot of success. That physical dominance, especially at the rolling maul, led to the sixth try that Mapimpi scored in front of a jubilant crowd. Libbok again played a big role with his distribution as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu took a drifting pass after André Esterhuizen started the move. Speaking about Esterhuizen, he was outstanding alongside Marx. The duo led the physical charge. The inside centre was prominent amongst the forwards to do the dirty work, but he also carried strongly on the offensive and tackled hard to help keep the Italians scoreless. While the talk will be about the attack, defending with such precision after receiving a red and yellow card in the game must be applauded. Even the few times Italy broke the defensive line, the scrambling of the world champions was brilliant. They said they will right their wrongs from last week. Apart from the cards, the Boks did just that. The players acquitted themselves well of their task, and despite the number of changes to the team, they played like a polished unit. That bodes well for the rest of the 2025 Tests. Springboks: 45 (24): Tries: Grant Williams, Edwill van der Merwe (2), Canan Moodie, Malcolm Marx, Makazole Mapimpi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Manie Libbok (5). Italy 0.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
14-man Springboks suppress Italy with 7 tries
GQEBERHA, South Africa (AP) — South Africa smothered Italy 45-0 with only 14 men at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and swept their two-test rugby series on Saturday. No. 8 Jasper Wiese was sent off in the 22nd minute for head-butting Italy prop Danilo Fischetti. His first international red card spoiled the chance to play with his younger brother Cobus, who made his Springboks debut in the second half. South Africa had two tries by then and scored five more. Even when it had 13 players for 10 minutes after prop Wilco Louw was sin-binned for head-on-head contact, South Africa still scored. Winger Edwill van der Merwe was denied a hat-trick try by a forward pass so the pack engineered a lineout drive for Malcolm Marx to dot down. Its the third time South Africa has blanked Italy. The last time was 17 years ago. A depleted Italy never looked like scoring a try and didn't have a shot at the posts. A strong response was expected from world champion South Africa after it was humbled by Italy's fightback in Pretoria last weekend. South Africa led 28-3 at halftime but won only 42-24. This time, South Africa led 24-0 at halftime and never let its foot off Italy's throat. The Springboks retained from Pretoria only seven players, including fullback Willie le Roux, who became the eighth Bok to play 100 tests, 12 years after his debut against the same side. Even with a much changed team, South Africa still started 11 Rugby World Cup winners. One of them, scrumhalf Grant Williams, scored the opening try thanks to his Sharks clubmates on the wings, Van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi. Van der Merwe dived beside the right corner flag for the second try and his second in his second test. After Jasper Wiese was marched, the winger also got the third try, the best of the match. Ox Nche had just arrived to shore up the Boks front row and destroyed an Italy scrum. Le Roux then chipped the ball and a kind bounce allowed Van der Merwe to dribble the ball to behind the posts and score. Center Canan Moodie bagged the fourth try just before halftime when he smashed through two defenders. Yellow cards dropped both teams to 14 players when Marx scored. But as the benches cleared the game lost its shape and it took more than 20 minutes for the Boks to score again. Beautiful handling set up Mapimpi's 33rd test try. In the dying seconds, replacement hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored in the corner and Mannie Libbok converted from the sideline, his fifth success from seven shots. ___ AP rugby:
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Innovators South Africa beat Italy 45-0 to take series 2-0
South Africa cruised to a 45-0 victory over Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday to win the series 2-0 as wing Edwill van der Merwe scored two tries and the Springboks introduced some innovative plays that resulted in further scores. Scrumhalf Grant Williams, centre Canan Moodie, hooker Malcolm Marx, wing Makazole Mapimpi and replacement hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels also crossed for tries in a performance that was far from perfect but enough to see off the Italians, who were ferocious at the breakdown but ultimately out-gunned. The home side lost number eight Jasper Wiese to a needless permanent red card on 21 minutes for a headbutt, but made light of that numerical disadvantage on a night where fullback Willie le Roux became the eighth Springbok to win 100 caps. Coach Rassie Erasmus introduced some innovative plays, including intentionally conceding a scrum from the kick-off, and twice creating midfield "line-outs" with lifting in open play that led to driving mauls and ultimately tries. "The boys played with heart and showed up," captain Saalman Moerat said. "We are a team that always looks to evolve, otherwise teams catch up to you. I am pleased with the plans that we had, and that we could execute them. "We knew the threat the Italians posed, they made it really hard for us, especially being one man down early in the game. South Africa dominated Italy in the scrum in last week's 42-24 win in Pretoria and forced a set-piece immediately from their own kick-off to keep the pressure on in what is surely a first for test rugby. HEAD-BUTT Williams and Van der Merwe crossed for eye-catching scores, before the home side were reduced to 14 players when Wiese was given a red card for a head-butt on Italy prop Danilo Fischetti. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion for Wiese with his younger brother Cobus debuting off the bench turned sour. Italy's intensity at the breakdown, a key area they have targeted in both tests, made it chaos on the floor and denied the Springboks quick ball. But there was more Springbok innovation in the build-up to their fourth try for Moodie as, in broken play, lock Ruan Nortje was lifted in centre-field to collect a pass. That created a maul and allowed them to drive forward, winning a penalty for an Italian collapse, but also setting Moodie free to score his try. They repeated the play in the second half and again won a penalty they did not need as Marx barged over the line, before Mapimpi and Wessels dotted down late on.
The Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Innovative Boks blank Italy in Gqeberha
SA cruised to a 45-0 victory over Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday to win the series 2-0 as wing Edwill van der Merwe scored two tries and the Springboks introduced some innovative plays that resulted in further scores. Scrumhalf Grant Williams, centre Canan Moodie, hooker Malcolm Marx, wing Makazole Mapimpi and replacement hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels also crossed for tries in a performance that was far from perfect but enough to see off the Italians, who were ferocious at the breakdown but ultimately outgunned. The home side lost number eight Jasper Wiese to a needless permanent red card on 21 minutes for a headbutt, but made light of that numerical disadvantage on a night where fullback Willie le Roux became the eighth Springbok to win 100 caps. Coach Rassie Erasmus introduced some innovative plays, including intentionally conceding a scrum from the kickoff, and twice creating midfield 'line-outs' with lifting in open play that led to driving mauls and ultimately tries. SA dominated Italy in the scrum in last week's 42-24 win in Pretoria and forced a set-piece immediately from their own kickoff to keep the pressure on in what is surely a first for Test rugby. Williams and Van der Merwe crossed for eye-catching scores, before the home side were reduced to 14 players when Wiese was given a red card for a headbutt on Italy prop Danilo Fischetti as they came together after a stoppage in play. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion for Wiese with his younger brother Cobus debuting off the bench turned sour. Italy's intensity at the breakdown, a key area they have targeted in both tests, made it chaos on the floor and denied the Springboks quick ball. But there was more Springbok innovation in the build-up to their fourth try for Moodie as, in broken play, lock Ruan Nortje was lifted in centrefield to collect a pass. That created a maul and allowed them to drive forward, winning a penalty for an Italian collapse, but also setting Moodie free to score his try. They repeated the play in the second half and again won a penalty they did not need as Marx barged over the line, before Mapimpi and Wessels dotted down late on. — Reuters
