Do you think Six Nations star Duhan van der Merwe would be an automatic selection for the Springboks? Photo by FranÁois-Xavier Marit/AFP
The ONE Six Nations ‘Saffa’ who’d definitely play for Springboks!
There is one South Africa-born player in the Six Nations who would definitely be featuring for the Springboks on current form.
Do you think Six Nations star Duhan van der Merwe would be an automatic selection for the Springboks? Photo by FranÁois-Xavier Marit/AFP
In the ongoing Six Nations tournament, there are five South Africa-born players selected in this year’s squads, with the northern hemisphere tournament having just hit the halfway mark.
South Africa is not just a breeding ground for star players on the local front, it is also known to be a production line for foreign nations who have cashed in on World Rugby’s residency laws to stock their ranks with South African-born players.
Big lock Paul Willemse has returned to the fold for France, but it’s the Scotland squad that really has a strong ‘Saffa’ flavour, with backs Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn joining forwards WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman in the squad.
When running through this list, though, it’s likely that the only ‘Saffa’ who would feature for the Springboks on current form is none other than Van der Merwe.
The powerhouse wing weighs in at a burly 105kg and stands 1.93m tall, but he boasts the pace of a race horse despite his bulk.
This past weekend, the University of Pretoria alma mater, who was born in George, produced a stunning hat-trick of tries to ensure Scotland retained the Calcutta Cup against England.
The Six Nations star would surely fit into the Springboks’ system
Van der Merwe played all of his junior rugby in South Africa, while he earned a couple of caps for the Bulls and the Junior Springboks.
However, he then moved abroad, having first signed up with Scotland club Edinburgh in 2017. Van der Merwe became available for the Scottish Test team in 2020, and has since gone on to feature in over 35 games.
With his strength, size, mobility and X factor, there is little doubt that the big man would be a strong consideration for the Springboks if he was still available.
Although the Springboks have plenty of depth on the wing with the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse, someone like Van der Merwe would undoubtedly offer a completely unique threat with his physicality and power.
All considered, the Six Nations and Scotland superstar would surely be a regular in the Springboks’ matchday 23 on current form.
