Ever since Scotland’s incredible victory over England at the weekend, fans have been raving about the rampaging powerhouse of a winger, Duhan van der Merwe. Now sat only one try behind Scottish record holder Stuart Hogg, the South African-born winner is now being talked about as Scotland’s greatest ever wide man.
Van der Merwe boasts a frame of 6 ft 4 in, weighing in at 17 stone, making him a terrifying force to bring down in the narrow channels. His greatest exploits at club and international levels, however, have seen the big man take his immense speed into the open and broken space with footwork normally seen on much slighter players.
These talents have gained the Edinburgh player worldwide attention, with many fans suggesting that he could well be the greatest winger in the current game. This, whilst backed up by many in the northern hemisphere, has been heavily criticised by those in the southern hemisphere – with many claiming that he wouldn’t make the Springbok squad.
Scotland’s wing Duhan van der Merwe (C) is tackled by South Africa’s centre Jesse Kriel (R) and South Africa’s wing Cheslin Kolbe (L) during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Scotland at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille, southern France on September 10, 2023. (Photo by Pascal GUYOT / AFP) (Photo by PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty Images)
Discussing this proposition, Bristol Bears prop Max Lahiff has been discussing just how good Van der Merwe is on his new podcast ‘Maul or Nothing’.
“Duhan van der Merwe being naughty and horrible” Lahiff began, before coining the phrase: ‘Duhan van der Murder’.”
“All the poor pommes. He was untouched, he was Teflon, wasn’t he? He is a freak show. We’re witnessing one of the great wingers of the modern-day game.”
“South Africans talk about Kurt-lee and Cheslin and they’re like ‘Duhan wouldn’t make the team’…you are lying. That’s nonsensical rubbish. He’s like a Russian experiment. He looks like Ivan Drago and plays like him, horrible.”
Is Duhan van der Merwe one of the best wingers in the world right now? #SixNationsRugby #duhanvandermerwe #scottishrugby #rugby #maulornothing pic.twitter.com/pNw3r6GDT9
— Maul or Nothing 🏉 (@MaulorNothing_) February 27, 2024
Discussing whether Rassie Erasmus would’ve included him in the Springbok squad if available, Lahiff claimed: “They would have found a way to implement him in some destructive nefarious way. Absolutely he’d be in there somehow.”
In a recent RugbyDump post regarding the subject, fans added their thoughts on the matter. A key point was made by one fan, saying: “A lot of very good players with different skills. Can’t compare Kolbe vs Van der Merwe. Only thing in common is that they are both from SA.”
With that frightening combination in mind, it’s lucky for the rest of the world that Big Duhan didn’t choose the Springboks.
⭐️ You’ve voted for your Player of the Round, and the winner is .🥁🥁🥁@Scotlandteam‘s Duhan Van Der Merwe 🤩 #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/cxKMDG3cp8
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 28, 2024
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