Former Cheetahs hooker and Currie Cup winner Marnus van der Merwe (middle) is currently making a name for himself in the URC at the Scarlets in Wales. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Scarlets’ South African hooker Marnus van der Merwe showed with an incredible performance against the Stormers why he is in the Springbok plans.
Van der Merwe is one of 26 players, mostly foreign-based, who will join Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus and his assistants during a virtual alignment camp this coming week. It’s the first time the overseas players, plus a couple of local youngsters, will touch base with the Springbok coaches following the first in-person camp last week.
The 28-year-old Van der Merwe, who joined Scarlets at the start of the United Rugby Championship (URC) from the Cheetahs, played a crucial role in keeping his team in the running against the Cape side. Although the Stormers eventually won 29-17, the game was in the balance until the 75th minute.
He played about 60 minutes of the clash and gave a good glimpse of why he was roped in for the virtual camp.
Apart from his relentlessness with the ball in hand when he carries, he was nearly spotless with his lineout throwing, he tackled with unabated intensity and was a nuisance at the breakdown. He also controlled the ball well behind the rolling mauls of the Scarlets. When they struggled in the scrums, he was constantly asking referee Eoghan Cross to explain the decisions.
That speaks of a mature front ranker and someone who fits the bill of what Erasmus and the Boks are looking for. He has been at a Springbok alignment camp in 2024, but have yet to be capped.
Those three crucial steals on Saturday to halt the Stormers from gaining momentum on the attack, including his abrasive runs that gave the Cape side’s defence some food for thought, could well boost his chances to play for the Boks this year.
He’s found his feet in Llanelli and looking at some of his performances in the URC, whether it’s off the bench or starting ahead of Welsh international Ryan Elias, he will be ready to make that step up to international rugby.
Van der Merwe is a hooker in the same mould as double World Cup winner Malcolm Marx and had the Stormers’ breakdown in chaos while he was on the field.
It will have been a pleasing sight for Erasmus and his coaches to see one of their prospects front up to players who attended the in-person camp recently in Cape Town.
With the Bok hooker jersey up for grabs when Marx and Bongi Mbonambi are not used this year, Van der Merwe will look to put in more performances like that of Saturday to enhance his chances of making his international debut.Van d