Edwill van der Merwe, stepping onto the pitch for his inaugural Test on South African turf, is backed by the formidable experience of teammates Willie Le Roux and Makazole Mapimpi. This Saturday's clash against Italy isn't just a game for Van der Merwe; it's a re-debut, given the lengthy gap since his first cap against Wales at Twickenham over a year ago. With only his second cap in line, the nerves are real, but so is the excitement of playing before a home crowd and his family.
Not one to sweat the small stuff, Van der Merwe finds comfort in the seasoned prowess within the Boks' back-three. Willie Le Roux is hitting a century of caps, and Makazole Mapimpi is notching up his 46th.
"A guy like Willie brings a lot of experience and Mapimpi has helped me a lot with the small areas of my game,"
Van der Merwe shared, adding,
"It’s just about leaning on those guys for advice and some tricks of the trade. They’ve been there and done that, so playing with them gives me a lot of confidence."
When asked about stepping into the shoes of wing wizards like Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe, Van der Merwe is keen to carve out his own niche. "They are the gold standard, but for me it’s about being myself. I think I’ve been selected in this group for something I bring uniquely as well. It’s about expressing myself and just doing my job in the system," he asserts, eager to blaze his own trail while absorbing everything he can from the best.
The camaraderie and mutual support within the team are palpable, with Van der Merwe highlighting the collective drive for excellence. "They’re probably the top two wings in the world at the moment, so for me to learn from these guys, see what they’re doing and try to apply it to my game. The nice thing about this environment is everybody helps each other and wants the guy who’s playing on the weekend to be the best he can be for South Africa."
This weekend's game promises to be a spectacle of skill and spirit, with Van der Merwe ready to prove his mettle on the international stage, bolstered by a band of seasoned and supportive teammates.
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Edwill van der Merwe, stepping onto the pitch for his inaugural Test on South African turf, is backed by the formidable experience of teammates Willie Le Roux and Makazole Mapimpi. This Saturday's clash against Italy isn't just a game for Van der Merwe; it's a re-debut, given the lengthy gap since his first cap against Wales at Twickenham over a year ago. With only his second cap in line, the nerves are real, but so is the excitement of playing before a home crowd and his family.
Not one to sweat the small stuff, Van der Merwe finds comfort in the seasoned prowess within the Boks' back-three. Willie Le Roux is hitting a century of caps, and Makazole Mapimpi is notching up his 46th.
"A guy like Willie brings a lot of experience and Mapimpi has helped me a lot with the small areas of my game,"
Van der Merwe shared, adding,"It’s just about leaning on those guys for advice and some tricks of the trade. They’ve been there and done that, so playing with them gives me a lot of confidence."
When asked about stepping into the shoes of wing wizards like Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe, Van der Merwe is keen to carve out his own niche. "They are the gold standard, but for me it’s about being myself. I think I’ve been selected in this group for something I bring uniquely as well. It’s about expressing myself and just doing my job in the system," he asserts, eager to blaze his own trail while absorbing everything he can from the best.
The camaraderie and mutual support within the team are palpable, with Van der Merwe highlighting the collective drive for excellence. "They’re probably the top two wings in the world at the moment, so for me to learn from these guys, see what they’re doing and try to apply it to my game. The nice thing about this environment is everybody helps each other and wants the guy who’s playing on the weekend to be the best he can be for South Africa."
This weekend's game promises to be a spectacle of skill and spirit, with Van der Merwe ready to prove his mettle on the international stage, bolstered by a band of seasoned and supportive teammates.