The Hunted Lion: Duhan van der Merwe

Duhan van der Merwe’s joy at his name being announced in the starting line-up for the British & Irish Lions’ first Test against the Springboks would have been tempered by the knowledge that some less than hospitable treatment would be waiting for him from his former countrymen on the pitch. 

South African rugby players are ubiquitous overseas and many have ended up turning out in the colours of adopted countries. However, that decision does not always sit well with more patriotic South Africans who become particularly annoyed when South African-born players choose to represent old enemies of the Springboks, as illustrated by the following story told by former Springbok captain John Smit, involving Bakkies Botha and Matt Stevens. 

“Bakkies couldn’t understand how this guy [Matt Stevens], born in South Africa, could play for the Queen. He just didn’t get it. 

"I told him that he had English ancestry and that he’d been playing in England for more than three years… He was a mate of mine so I knew that if I don’t calm him down, it was not going to end well. I thought I had explained it very well but, it turns out, I wasn’t. 

"In the first scrum, Bakkies loaded on the left-hand side. He normally scrummed on the tight-head side so I knew what was coming. I shifted to the right and Bakkies came through so plumb. He hit him and split his cheek and left him stunned. Off he went to the doc and they stitched him up. 

"14 stitches and eight minutes later, Stevens is back. Again, Bakkies goes on the left-hand side. I know what’s coming so I move to the right but Bakkies’ aim was not as good. Only eight of the 14 stitches popped. 

"That took us to half-time and I had a chat to Bakkies to say, ‘I think he knows now’. First scrum of the second half, Bakkies comes to the left and binds, and I can see his right arm is loose. 

"In Afrikaans, I say to Bakkies, ‘I think that’s enough’. 

"He looked up from the scrum, his face all mushed up, and says, ‘Just one more please, captain?!’” 

Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland says van der Merwe knows what lies in store for him. 

"I spoke to Van der Merwe on Tuesday and said to him, 'You know what's coming on the weekend?' He was fully aware. 

“I presume every time he (Van der Merwe) touches the ball, they will try to hit him with everything they've got, and there'll probably be some 'verbals' thrown at him as well. 

"But he is well aware of what's at stake, and he's been incredibly relaxed. The way he's been running with the ball, beating defenders and scoring tries ... he was the top try-scorer in the Six Nations.” 

Apart from copping flak from his opponents, van der Merwe will also stand opposite arguably the best player in the world at the moment in Cheslin Kolbe. 

"It's going to be a real challenge for him (Van der Merwe)," said Gatland. 

"Cheslin didn't get many opportunities in the SA 'A' game, but he had one and made the most of it. And we can't afford to do what we did in that game and kick the ball down his throat. 

"Hopefully, we won't give him as much time and space on the ball on Saturday.”