Edwill van der Merwe: I didn’t want to be a one-cap Springbok

On Saturday afternoon in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Edwill van der Merwe will breathe a big sigh of relief when he takes to the field in the second Test against Italy.

The speedy winger will run out for Springbok cap number two after waiting over a year to don the green and gold again. He last played against Wales at Twickenham in June 2024, when he made his debut. Now, Van der Merwe will get to live out his boyhood dream again.

After injuries curtailed his international dream last season, he wondered if he would stay a one-Test Bok. That will not be the case come Saturday as he is set to take on the Azzurri alongside Springbok veteran Willie le Roux, who will be playing in his 100th Test, and fellow winger Makazole Mapimpi in an exciting back-three for the Test (5.10pm start).

“The biggest goal was to play for the Springboks and when I got my first cap, I told myself I didn’t want to be a one-cap Bok,” Van der Merwe said.

“So, to get this opportunity again, I am very grateful. I know it is only through the grace of God that I am sitting here again. I think it’s almost a year and a month later that I am getting this opportunity, so I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

He had a strong debut against Wales and showed, with some neat touches, that he belonged on the international stage. The try he scored beating a couple of defenders at Twickenham will always be one to remember. He also made a couple of try-saving tackles, and showed that he is willing to put his body on the line for the world champions.

However, an ankle injury kept him on the sidelines, and, with the strong competition in the Bok squad, he missed out on selection for the Boks’ unbeaten Year-end tour to Europe. Strong showings for the Lions in the United Rugby Championship brought him back into the picture. He also recently left Johannesburg for a move to the Sharks and Durban.

It will be his first Test on South African soil, but he will be able lean on the experience of Le Roux and Mapimpi.

“A guy like Willie brings a lot of experience, Mapimpi has helped me a lot with the small areas of my game. It’s just about leaning on them 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,” Van der Merwe said.

The 29-year-old is also eager to play with a backline consisting of the veterans, halfbacks Grant Williams and Manie Libbok and centres André Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie. Should the Boks generate front-foot ball with their forwards’ physicality, it could open up the game for the strike runners at the back.