The Springboks have unveiled their latest threat for the upcoming Summer Tests against Ireland, as Edwill van der Merwe’s barn-storming performance stunned Wales last weekend. The Emirates Lions wing stepped up for his first Springboks start, as he lit up Twickenham with a stunning try and capped off the win with the Player of the Match Award.
Van der Merwe has certainly put the Springboks wings on notice, as he made good on his opportunity to impress against Warren Gatland’s Wales. Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus handed the 28-year-old his maiden Bok’s start, who impressed in the vacancy of Cheslin Kolbe along the right wing.
Springboks centre Andre Esterhuizen was amongst those impressed by the wing, and was full of praise for the Lions man. Esterhuizen spoke to RUCK in the post match mix zone at Twickenham, and joked that Rassie Erasmus will now only select wingers that are wearing scrum caps for the Springboks as van der Merwe stepped up in Kolbe’s absence.
“Firstly, he’s a great guy. And obviously, he’s just got into the mix. He trained very hard in the first two weeks. And certainly I do feel that he played his heart out. So yeah, fully deserved performance, he worked hard for it. I think the Springboks are never going to pick a wing without head gear any more!”
Despite the score-line at Twickenham reading 41-13 in favour of the Springboks, the match was not at all one-way traffic for those in green and gold. Wales put up a resilient fight for the first 40 minutes, and were well within the match when the referee blew for half-time, as South Africa led by just one point (14-13). Esterhuizen gave a slight insight into the Springboks changing rooms, and explained some of the discussions that lifted the Boks to run rampant upon the second half, with three unanswered tries and an assortment of penalties.
“I think the main main focus point was (at half-time), ‘we do something well, and then we’d give a penalty away. Or, we’re not calm and composed, and we’re kicking the ball out in touch’, small stuff like that.
“Then at the end, when everything came together, I think on attack, there was glimpses of loads of great touches, good skills, and getting good momentum. So obviously, that’s what we are aiming for. We’re just keeping hold for two weeks now before Ireland, so should be good.”
As the former Harlequin alluded to, the Springboks are now turning their attention to Ireland ahead of the two-match series next month. Andy Farrell’s side will soon make the trip down to the Southern Hemisphere, for the fixtures against the Springboks on July 6th and 13th. Despite not being delighted with every aspect of their game, Esterhuizen believes that this Springboks side has potential to bring the fight to Ireland in the two incoming Test matches.
“Obviously not the perfect performance. But we are also building, we’ve got new defence coach (Jerry Flannery), new things that we’re implementing. There was signs of brilliant moments today, and things coming together.
“But I think one of the things that kept us (from dominating), they (Wales) kicked well, but we clicked a bit later in the game. Our discipline is obviously one thing we have to work on. And we spoke about that all week. If we take out those penalties and stuff like that, I think we’re going in the right direction.”