For Edwill van der Merwe, five Test caps in and finally settled in the Springbok mix, patience has been the theme of his international career and he wears it, literally. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Asked whether the “marathon, not a sprint” tattoo on his left arm feels more relevant than ever now that he’s picking up regular caps and tries at 28, the Sharks wing didn’t hesitate.
“It’s always a privilege to be in the Bok mix,” he said in Sandton on Tuesday. “I had to wait a bit longer than I would have wanted to, but I’m grateful to be here and looking forward to another opportunity this weekend.”
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He credits an injury-disrupted end to last year, and a call-up he couldn’t play through, with sharpening his hunger.
“Being in that environment again, even though I didn’t play, reignited the drive to be here and to get back here.”
Now starting on the wing against Scotland, where he will tangle with ex-Maties teammate Kyle Steyn, Van der Merwe is targeting more than just involvement.
“Building on that confidence coming into camp, I want to add value in whatever way I can and contribute to the plans we have,” he said.
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For Ntuthuko Mchunu, named among the replacements for his fourth Test cap, the challenge this week is a different one: staying ready without knowing when the call will come.
“We’ve been together now for a good five weeks, and depending on the week, your role changes,” the loosehead prop explained. “It’s not that your mindset suddenly shifts on a Monday just because the other guys played well the week before … we’ve been training really hard regardless.”
He was clear that a place on the bench carries the same weight as a starting jersey.
“When it’s your turn, the standard stays the same, if not higher. Nothing really changes, but your role shifts from maybe supporting the guy playing that week and this week it’s your turn to lift it or keep the same standard.”
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Between Van der Merwe’s slow-burn rise to the starting XV and Mchunu’s readiness to make an instant impact, the Springboks’ message this week is consistent: opportunity looks different for everyone, but the standard doesn’t shift.
Photo: Lubabalo Lesolle/Gallo Images
The post Edwill, Mchunu ready to answer Bok call appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
For Edwill van der Merwe, five Test caps in and finally settled in the Springbok mix, patience has been the theme of his international career and he wears it, literally.
The post Edwill, Mchunu ready to answer Bok call
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