Edinburgh are set to unleash Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe on the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final on May 31, the big flyer’s first action in nearly two months.
Scotland’s record try-scorer has not played since injuring his ankle against the Dragons on March 28 and coach Sean Everitt will be happy to have Van der Merwe’s firepower for the huge challenge awaiting his team.
Duhan will, at some point in the game, be up against his older brother Akker, the Bulls hooker who is likely to back up Johan Grobbelaar. Akker is four years older than 29-year-old Duhan, who, despite missing seven games, was still included in the Lions squad for a second consecutive tour. He started all three Tests in the series defeat to South Africa four years ago.
After his team had produced an excellent performance to demolish Ulster 47-17, Everitt said van der Merwe will be available for the trip to Pretoria..
“He’s running and doing really well, so we’re definitely hoping that we have Duhan for the quarterfinal,” Everitt said.
Edinburgh will fancy their chances of upsetting the Bulls, who recently lost 34-28 to Edinburgh in a Challenge Cup quarterfinal at the Hive Stadium in the Scottish capital.
If Edinburgh can gain parity with the Bulls up front, they have the strike force to do damage out wide.
Van der Merwe’s wing partner for Edinburgh and Scotland, Darcy Graham, was superb in the Ulster game as he made a point to British and Irish Lions coach, Andy Farrell, who controversially overlooked Graham for the imminent tour of Australia.
Everit said Graham must continue to put his hand up against the Bulls because injuries inevitably arise.
“Darcy was very good tonight,” Everitt said. “He’s been struggling with a heel over the last couple of weeks, but this week he was feeling much better, and you could see it in his performance.
“He’s just got to keep on performing and make it really difficult for the Lions to leave him out should injuries occur.”
