Edwill Van Der Merwe's Move To Sharks Can Be A Springbok Springboard For The Winger

COLUMN

As tough as it is for the Lions and their supporters to hear this, maybe a move away from Ellis Park is what speedster Edwill van der Merwe needs to propel him to greater Springbok heights.

The flight-footed winger has been linked with a move for a while now and it looks like the Sharks in Durban won the arm wrestle for his signature ahead of next season. Looking at his World Cup ambitions as a 28-year-old, slotting in with a star-studded team and a backline littered with Springboks just seems like the right decision.

I am not saying that the Lions do not possess a backline with plenty of skills, a couple of young Boks, and potential future stars, but what Van der Merwe needs now is to break through that franchise ceiling to play more regularly for South Africa. Hes had a taste of Springbok rugby against Wales at Twickenham and had it not been for an injury, he couldve possibly had more caps already.

But at the Sharks, he will be surrounded by national players who can take his game to another level. And, looking at the winger stocks in Durban, having to shift Ethan Hooker there throughout the season, they need a specialist finisher. He is the one.