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Townsend: Why 'amazing' van der Merwe achievement won't beat last year
Gregor Townsend has hailed Duhan van der Merwe’s “amazing achievement” in becoming the first Scotland player to score a Calcutta Cup try hat-trick, but the head coach quipped that it didn’t eclipse the winger’s effort in the 2023 fixture versus the English.
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The 28-year-old South African is developing a habit of scoring in the world’s oldest rugby international fixture, his record now reading six tries in four appearances.
He scored one try in the 2021 win in London and hit back from 2022’s home blank to score twice at Twickenham in last year’s success before producing this weekend’s unprecedented treble in their latest Guinness Six Nations clash.
Townsend in no way sought to downplay the significance of van der Merwe’s magnificent contribution to the sparkling 30-21 success, but he suggested that last year’s double in London was his pick of the bunch.
“I’ll have to look at it, I can see you want to write an article on Duhan’s performance,” he joked when his post-game media briefing came back around for the third separate time to the topic of van der Merwe’s joyous scoring exploits.
? DUHAN VAN DER MERWE ?#GuinnessM6N #SCOENG @Scotlandteam pic.twitter.com/r0YX8gjDF4
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 24, 2024
“To score three tries is an amazing achievement. I don’t think it will beat last year, though. Duhan’s two tries were amazing, and he scored there as well (in 2021), so he obviously thrives in this fixture and we’re delighted he was available.”
Townsend’s initial comments on van der Merwe’s hat-trick similarly began with a tongue-in-cheek reference. “Was it three run-ins he had? Yeah, he was great. The try where he went down the wing made a big difference.
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“The first try was exceptional play with Sione (Tuipulotu) and Huw Jones, and Huw Jones keeping the ball alive. That was probably the first time we had an attacking platform in England’s half, so that was needed.
“The second one was a big momentum swinger. The crowd realised that too and then the third one, the Finn (Russell) kick, a good bounce for us and Duhan’s finish was great to see.”
A year ago, following the opening round win at Twickenham, Townsend described van der Merwe’s solo score from the halfway line that scattered would-be defenders as something out of the yesteryear Jonah Lomu Rugby game on PlayStation.
What went through the head coach’s mind when he saw his winger set off on his 30-minute solo gallop from a similar distance at Scottish Gas Murrayfield?
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“That he doesn’t step into touch. He was very close, and even when he finished his try. That ability to back yourself too. It could have been easier to slow down, step someone and use his power, not just go for it.
“That was great. There is risk and reward in that. If you go for it and get tackled you’re in touch. But he just had enough pace to get there. We’re delighted. I’m sure there is footage of us jumping up and down in the coaching box.”
The hat-trick took van der Merwe’s Test career try total to 26, just one behind retired record holder Stuart Hogg. “He has got a lot of rugby ahead of him. Darcy Graham too, he’s up there in try-scoring numbers and has a lot of rugby ahead of him.
“The threat that we have out wide with Kyle Steyn, with other guys that have played for us, does put teams under pressure and they can’t just focus on our midfield. There will be space somewhere on a rugby field and I’m glad Duhan found it.”
Not that the hat-trick hero was the sort who’d be inclined to gloat about it. “It’s a team sport and two of Duhan’s tries were created by others. It’s a great achievement. Duhan is actually very humble.
“I was praising him for a tackle, I thought it was the best tackle I have seen from him. Despite that, it went to report (a yellow card that was reviewed in the bunker for potential red card play). I don’t know what game we’re watching now, a very good tackle could actually be a red card. It seems crazy.
“He did a lot of work in the France game with no reward. Today, that work brought him a lot of reward. And in terms of achievement, we won this game for each other and our supporters, so we won’t look past that.”
This is always one of the great rugby pageants, the Scotland team getting piped into Scottish Gas Murrayfield by the marching band before a home match. #SCOvENG #EnglandRugby #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/b66bdqHpMl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 24, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments