Springbok winger Edwill van der Merwe is eagerly awaiting his next chance to perform in the Green and Gold as the national team prepares to face Italy during the Autumn Nations Series.
The Springboks have begun their European tour with wins over Japan and France, and focus has now shifted to the upcoming match against Italy. Given Coach Rassie Erasmus’s praised strategy of building squad depth and rotating players, significant team changes are anticipated for the Italy fixture.
Ready to Seize the Moment
With Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Ethan Hooker having occupied the wing positions in the last two games, Van der Merwe is widely expected to be named in the matchday squad this week.
The 29-year-old has made a strong case for inclusion, having scored five tries in just four Test appearances. Notably, he previously scored a brace against Italy earlier this year, a performance he hopes to replicate.
As Coach Erasmus prepares to announce the team on Thursday, Van der Merwe expressed his trust in the coaching staff’s selection process but maintained a professional mindset regarding his readiness.
“The biggest thing for me is to stay prepared,” he said. “Stay ready whenever the call comes and when I get the opportunity to play, to grab it with both hands.”
Wary of the Italian Challenge
If selected, Van der Merwe will be able to draw on his recent experience against the Italians. Despite the Springboks’ previous victory, the winger stressed that the current Italian side, under new coach Gonzalo Quesada, cannot be underestimated, particularly after their strong performance against Australia last weekend.
Van der Merwe noted the specific threat posed by the Italian defensive tactics:
“They put a lot of emphasis on slowing the ball down or going to steal the ball. Whatever they throw at us, we will have to match it.”
