Prop hits out at the notion that Duhan van der ‘Murder’ wouldn’t make the Springboks

Bristol Bears prop Max Lahiff believes that the notion that Duhan van der Merwe would not make the Springboks team is “nonsensical rubbish”.

His remarks follow Van der Merwe’s outstanding display during the Calcutta Cup match against England.

In the Six Nations match, the explosive winger scored three tries as Scotland easily defeated England 30–21 at Murrayfield.

The speedster was born in South Africa and competed for his native nation at the U20 level in 2014 before moving to Montpellier, a Top 14 side, in France.

He signed with Edinburgh in 2017, and in 2020, he earned his Scotland Test debut after gaining residency eligibility.

“We are witnessing one of the great wingers”

He has been a star for Scotland ever since, and on Saturday, his hat-trick saw him go within one try of Stuart Hogg’s all-time try-scoring record.

Despite his success, many Springboks fans believe that he would still not make the current squad due to the embarrassment of riches in the position, including Makazole Mapimpi, Cheslin Kolbe, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse.

But Lahiff has slammed that opinion and believes that the likes of Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber would have found a way to fit him in the starting lineup.

“Duhan van der Merwe being naughty and horrible. Duhan van der Murder! All the poor pommies, he was untouchable,” Lahiff said in reaction to the winger’s performance against England on the Maul or Nothing podcast.

“He is Teflon; he is a freak show. We are witnessing one of the great wingers of the modern-day game, I think.

“You know South Africans, they talk about Kurt-Lee [Arendse] and Cheslin [Kolbe], and they are like, ‘Duhan wouldn’t make the team’ you are lying.

“That is nonsensical rubbish; he is like a Russian experiment. He looks like Ivan Drago plays like him. Horrible.”

Fitting him into the Springboks squad

Former Scotland back-rower Ryan Wilson pondered whether Erasmus and the Boks were looking enviously on at van der Merwe’s performances.

“Do you really think that Rassie and those boys, together with South Africa, are looking at it going? Oh no, what did we let go of? He asked.

“I think they would a way to implement him in some destructive, nefarious way, absolutely,” Lahiff retorted. He would be there, somehow.

“They’d probably have him in the back-row,” Wilson said.

In the penultimate match of the 2024 Six Nations, Van der Merwe might set the record for most tries scored by Scottish players when Gregor Townsend’s team travels to Rome to play Italy.

On Super Saturday, they play Ireland, who are aiming for a Grand Slam, to wrap up their season at the Aviva Stadium.