Saturday's Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld carries personal significance for Edwill van der Merwe on two counts: it will be his first international appearance at Loftus and his first cap against Scotland. It also marks his return to the green and gold after nearly a year out through injury.
The Sharks wing has made every appearance count across his five Tests to date, scoring five tries — a brace against Italy and individual efforts against Australia, Georgia and Wales. His only scoreless outing came against Australia.
At 30, Van der Merwe goes into the match knowing South Africa are building off a 45-21 win over England last week in the Nations Championship.
There is a subplot to Saturday's clash with Scotland: Van der Merwe will line up against Kyle Steyn, his former Stellenbosch University teammate. "We played together at Stellenbosch University, so we've known each other for quite some time," Van der Merwe said. "It will be good to play against him this weekend."
On the competitive environment within the squad, the wing was measured. "The coaching team cultivates an environment where you know precisely where you fit in and what the plans are. Everyone knows the team comes first, so if you aren't playing, there isn't really time to feel sorry for yourself. When your opportunity comes, you must grab it with both hands."
Van der Merwe also flagged the Springboks' URC exposure to Scottish opposition as a tactical advantage heading into the Test. "Our advantage is that we play in the URC regularly against the Scots who will be playing this weekend. The coaching staff also have excellent profiles on the opposition players, so we know precisely what is coming."