[imagesource: Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA]
We haven’t been able to watch the world champion Springboks in action for far too long, but there would have been some decent celebrations in George over the weekend.
Local boy turned Scotsman, 25-year-old Duhan van der Merwe, powered through the English defence at Twickenham to score the only try of the Six Nations showdown, helping his side to a historic 11-6 win over the old enemy.
Van der Merwe attended Hoërskool Outeniqua, played for South Western Districts at Craven Week, represented South Africa at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship, and made two appearances for the Bulls.
In 2016 he moved to France to play for Montpellier, and then signed with Scottish Pro14 side Edinburgh ahead of the 2017-18 season, qualifying to represent Scotland through the three-year residency rule.
In his sixth test for the Scots, he bulldozed his way over:
Duhan van der Merwe is just pure power
ITV#SaffasAbroad #ENGvSCO #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/SY2uawhHvX
— Saffas Abroad Rugby
(@SaffasRugby) February 7, 2021
Scotland’s 11-6 win was their first victory over England at Twickenham for 38 years, so you can bet van der Merwe is a popular man in his adopted country.
When Scotland last beat England at Twickenham in 1983…
– Michael Jackson was riding high in the charts with Billie Jean
– Tootsie was a worldwide box office sensation
– Gregor Townsend was 9 years old
– none of the Scotland team were born pic.twitter.com/rlcFLdhGP2— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 6, 2021
There will also be plenty of tough questions coming Eddie Jones’ way, with his English side putting in a tepid performance that warrants the criticism it is getting.
You can see the full highlights of the historic match below:
[source:sarugbymag]
