The Springboks ‘surprise package’ who ex-All Black ‘thought was Cheslin Kolbe’ in dominant Test displays
Springboks speedster Edwill van der Merwe laid down a marker ahead of the Rugby Championship, according to former All Black James Parsons.
The 29-year-old is the latest scrum-capped wing to come out of the Republic, following on from the likes of Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Kolbe and Arendse are currently the first-choice wide players, but Van der Merwe was given an opportunity against Italy and Georgia.
He scored a brace in each game to leave an impression on Parsons, who felt there was a similarity to Kolbe thanks to his head covering and game style.
Springboks wing depth
“Van der Merwe, he is a little surprise package on the wing for South Africa. I know he’s probably not going to steal the spot of the current frontline wingers but, man, they’ve got some depth in that position,” he said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“In terms of what impressed me, I think his game was… honestly, I thought it was Kolbe for most of the game until he scored that try and it didn’t come up with [his name]. That’s how strong his game was.”
Parsons was asked which players he felt made the biggest statements during the July Tests as he named Van der Merwe in a list which also included the All Blacks’ Will Jordan and France’s breakout star Mickael Guillard.
Fellow panellist Bryn Hall, who won six Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, was also impressed by the Springboks wing but added Morne van den Berg into the mix.
Van den Berg was handed the number nine jersey for the first two matches of the mid-year series against the Barbarians and Italy, shining on both occasions.
“For the South Africans, Van der Merwe was very good but Van den Berg as well. You look at Faf de Klerk not being involved in this next part of the Australian series, you have to think that he’s the new guy coming through,” Hall said.
Other July stars
The 33-year-old also namechecked a few more players, including All Blacks rookie Fabian Holland and ex-Blues scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.
“The only person he (Parsons) missed out for me was Holland. We touched on it in the last three Tests matches, being able to go 80 minutes as a debutant is very impressive,” Hall added.
For the Lions, I’ve gone with Jamison Gibson-Park. On the weekend as well, there were two instances where he was massive in terms of changing the Test match.
“Where his game is at the moment, not only his decision-making but his game-management and understanding in Test match footy, and what’s required, he’s the best in the world along with Dupont around that.”
