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'Every time I saw the surgeon, she was surprised at where I was... she just kept making my rehab tougher'
DTH van der Merwe refused to accept his season was over following shoulder surgery in February and could be rewarded for his perseverance by featuring in the Guinness PRO14 semi-finals.
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The Glasgow winger is in line to make his comeback in Friday’s visit of Ulster to Scotstoun. The Canada international said: “It’s been a tough road from getting injured in January against Saracens. I finished the game and I knew there was something wrong with my shoulder, but I didn’t think I’d need surgery.
“But I had a scan, had the surgery and the season was over. But luckily with the recovery and rehab I have had, I have come on leaps and bounds and the surgeon said I was good to play. So I’m up for selection.
“Once I had the surgery, I just decided to do everything to make it back. Around six to eight weeks post-surgery I felt I had a lot more range than I had after my previous shoulder surgery. Every time I saw the surgeon, she was surprised at where I was with my range, motion and strength, and just kept making my rehab tougher.”
Glasgow’s near three-week break following their final league game could work in the winger’s favour with Dave Rennie’s training geared towards maintaining a competitive edge. “We train really hard and make sure we get the contact,” he said. “It’s been perfect for me.
??? Back fit earlier than expected, DTH van der Merwe discusses his shoulder rehab, the upcoming World Cup and THAT semi-final against Ulster 4 years ago #WarriorsWeekly
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— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) May 14, 2019
“There was a possibility I could have played in the Edinburgh game, but it gave me another three weeks to get my confidence up and make sure the shoulder was right.”
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Warriors are desperate to seal a place in the final, especially as it takes place at Celtic Park. “There’s obviously a buzz around Glasgow about it, everyone speaks about it,” van der Merwe said.
“The players would be really excited to play there. There’s obviously quite a few Celtic supporters in the team, the same with the staff as well, our physio (Nicola McGuire) is a huge Celtic supporter. You wouldn’t want to not be there being a Glaswegian.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass fly on the wall documentary on the 2018 PRO14 final
Comments on RugbyPass
Hopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
71 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
71 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
71 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
71 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
71 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
3 Go to comments