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Akker van der Merwe doesn't like the weather in Manchester

19 Dec 2019

Akker van der Merwe

Springbok hooker Akker van der Merwe survived a match halting hail storm at Exeter and is now determined to stop a Northampton storm from knocking Sale’s bid for a top-four Premiership place off course.

Van der Merwe was one of the first Sale players to race off the Sandy Park pitch last weekend as hail forced the referee to halt the Heineken Champions Cup loss to Exeter for a short period in the second half. That second successive European loss to Exeter seriously damaged Sale’s hopes in the competition which means attention now turns to the Premiership and the arrival of top of the table Northampton, who have just endured two hammerings by Leinster in Europe, conceding a debilitating 93 points in those losses.

However, Northampton are set to recall likes of Cobus Reinach, Courtney Lawes, David Ribbans, Mike Haywood, Teimana Harrison, Rory Hutchinson, Tom Collins and George Furbank to try and maintain their Premiership position. As a result, van der Merwe is expecting to face a Northampton backlash that will severely test Sale’s own credentials as potential top four finishers.

Van der Merwe told RugbyPass: “We scored a try at Exeter and then Jono (Ross, Sale captain) came running back and just smiled at me as the hail started.

“I had never played in hail before and when the ref said “time off” I was probably the first one into the dressing room. It is a lot different from Durban and I don’t think I have ever been to a place (Manchester) where it rains so much!

“Now we are facing Northampton and after the Leinster results, their boys will be hungrier and up for it and it will be a tough battle. I am here to test myself against the best and I am looking forward to the battle on Saturday – there is definitely going to be one.

Akker van der Merwe is one of five Durban-based Sharks that headed to the north-west of England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

“We haven’t delivered that 80 mins performance yet and this is a really important time of the season. The weather makes it a lot more difficult to move the ball wide and so the forwards have to be on their game all the time. Set piece dominance is what we look to achieve and back in Super Rugby while the teams aren’t weaker, you expect to get your four points against the bottom teams but here the bottom side can beat the top one. If you are not on it every week you will lose. Over the next three weeks, we must finish the year well.”

Van der Merwe won the last of his three test caps against England last year in Bloemfontein in the same Springbok team as Faf de Klerk, now his teammate at Sale. De Klerk was in the international wilderness when he arrived at Sale but his performances for the Premiership club earned him a recall which led to a World Cup winner’s medal in Japan. Van der Merwe believes playing in England will make him a more complete player and hopes to relaunch his own test career.

Terribly sad news coming out of France. Thoughts and prayers are with his family https://t.co/GG8zjLY9ZG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 19, 2019

The hooker scored two tries in the first of those two Heineken Champions Cup defeats by Exeter to showcase his attacking skills, but it is the piano shifting rather than the piano playing that is the key part of a hooker’s game to ensure quality ball from scrum and line out.

“Playing here is going to challenge me in a way I haven’t been challenged before,” he added. “It will make me a better player and the dream is still to play for the Springboks.

“It is nice to run with the ball but my primary work is in the tight and I need to get all of those things right before I start thinking about open play.”

In the New Year van der Merwe will be throwing lineout ball to World Cup-winning Springbok lock Lood de Jager who will arrive at Sale after recovering from a serious shoulder injury suffered in the final against England in Yokohama. There is already a strong Springbok contingent at the club headed by de Klerk along with Rob Du Preez and his brothers Jean-Luc and Dan plus prop Coenie Oosthuizen who were all part of the Sharks Super Rugby squad with van der Merwe last season

Having swapped the sun of Durban for Manchester’s inclement weather, fifth placed Sale need van der Merwe and his South African mates to help make this a winning Happy Christmas – despite the weather.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 21 minutes ago

How Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks are winning rugby's secret information war

👌

Nice one Nick. I used to think New Zealand were the masters of gleaning information from their coaches from across the globe. And always felt that SA was missing a trick of their own. Until we started exporting coaches much like New Zelaand does.

Rassie will long be remembered for putting the boks back on track and then on top of the pile. A legend for what he has done, love or hate him.

Long may it last, because of course teams have seasons. We’ve seen the ABs and now possibly the Irish seasons change.

I think what you are hitting on for me is that the health of the coaching pipeline, the quality of the coaches being developed is the best indicator of where sustainable results for international teams will come from.

I think England and Australia have some potential in terms of coaches out there and developing. How and if that is ever successfully brought into the national setup in a thoughtful, integrated way stands to be seen.

Because that’s where Rassie (who had cited the ABs in particular in this regard) has actually been his most successful. Making the springboks the ultimate goal, getting the systems to at least work in some synchronous way despite politics and competing interests. And in a country like SA!

When he moves on from coaching the boks, I sincerely hope World Rugby considers him for some role. Or at least - I hope he leads SA rugby. Perhaps as president of SA rugby.

The man’s mouth might not always seen as coming from the right place but his heart is. And he is a true leader.

PS. I don’t see a lot about France in my feed - and I should look more deeply, but while France has resources currently, I’m not sure what their coaching stocks look like and across the globe. Galthie seems like a generational coaching talent.

PPS. It will be interesting to see how many player turned coaches emerge out of this current springbok era. I think there are a few players who show great potential as future coaches. Having experienced Rassie, and possibly being encouraged and influenced in that direction.

Apart form Vermeulen, I suspect Frans Steyn might make a little dent coming out of the Free State. He’s a good man too. And I think he has good game smarts. He leads with heart too.

I have read that Willie le Roux is another potential. Although I think he’s bat sh1t crazy!

I have a feeling Kitschoff might make a move into coaching too. There are a lot of good rugby brains in the player group. The future looks bright for SA in this regard and with Rassie directing things in some further bigger picture role, I think this bodes well for us and sustaining a season of success for the boks.

5 Go to comments

Bull Shark 39 minutes ago

'When we cross the line into personal insults, the fun is gone'

So even Irish players are now complaining about Irish fans.

7 Go to comments

d 39 minutes ago

Will Jordan: Every All Blacks strategic shift for World Cup was to beat Ireland

Nice story, but he (and the rest of our one-eyed supporters) love to gloss over the fact that Jordie Barrett’s arm under what was thought to be a certain Irish try won us that match. That, a desperately brilliant defensive game by Sam Cane, and a brilliant individual try by Jordan himself, belied a side and a coach devoid of attacking ideas.

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Bull Shark 43 minutes ago

'I have my opinion': Ntamack wades into Dupont injury debate

I think he’s right about the injustice. The inconsistency is maddening.

3 Go to comments

Spew_81 50 minutes ago

Stat chat: Clear favourite emerges as Sam Cane's All Blacks successor

Do they want to replace Sam Cane and his capabilities? Or do they want something different? What do they want from the loose forward trio?

If the All Blacks to want to play their flowing, offloading game. They need more players who can bend/brake tackles and offload. That was one of the weaker aspects of Sam Cane’s game.

In 2024 the All Blacks set piece returned to world class. The ruck and maul work was good. The goal kicking and punting was good enough. You would’ve expected an All Blacks team, with those positives, to dominate. But most of the games were uncomfortably close for their liking. Part of the reason is that rush defences are extremely effective at countering the ‘offloading game’.

To get the ‘offloading game’ working, they need more power runners. Having a true left wing, Caleb Clark, made a difference. Roigard made a difference at 9. The midfield seems to be under achieving, but the backs aren’t the focus of this article.

The front row’s running game is good. As with the locks'; Vaa’i really broke through last year. If Holland gets in, he could reproduce the consistent ‘go forward’ that Retallick delivered; while also having more height and work rate than Tuipulotu.

That leaves the loose trio. Savea is a good all around openside. While he’s not the cleanout/tackle/turnover machine that Cane was, Cane did not have Savea’s running game. The question is – does one player have to be the cleanout/tackle/turnover machine – or can it be split between the pack?

Sititi is mobile, a solid lineout option, and has openside skills. Vaa’i is mobile and multiskilled for a lock, so is Holland. Finau is a formidable runner and tackler, and is a genuine lineout option. Suafoa has great potential as a blindside/lock reserve. Peter Lakai can cover all three loose roles.

So maybe: 6) Finau, 7) Savea, 8) Sititi, 19) Suafoa, 20) Lakai?

5 Go to comments

Bull Shark 55 minutes ago

Andrew Porter breaks silence on his role in Antoine Dupont incident

That’s how I know.

10 Go to comments

GP 1 hour ago

Stat chat: Clear favourite emerges as Sam Cane's All Blacks successor

Ethan Blackadder is up to doing the job at international level. Playing for the Crusaders on Sunday against the Reds he was crucial to the Crusaders back row smashing the Wallaby laden loosies in that game. Ethan had a great game , playing for the AB’s against South Africa last year and they are tough.

5 Go to comments

GP 1 hour ago

Five changes for the Crusaders to play the Force

Wonderful to see Braydon Ennor back in a Crusaders starting jersey. It will be great to see on Sunday. It will be a welcome return. As Rob Penney said, Tom Christie , epitomizes the Crusaders roll your sleeves up ethos , of doing the hard work. A never say die red and black man through and through.

7 Go to comments

Cantab 1 hour ago

Stat chat: Clear favourite emerges as Sam Cane's All Blacks successor

Horses for courses. NZ is blessed with a number of fine loose forwards . Who is selected would depend on what we are up against and what type of game we wish to play against them. Note also that forwards tend to have a high attrition rate and some players eg Blackadder have a history of injuries.

5 Go to comments

JS 2 hours ago

Henry Pollock set for debut as England change four for Wales

What a woeful selector Borthwick is.

Wales renowned for their dominating tight 5 and we have chosen to have 0 locks on the bench. Irrespective of whether Martin/Isiekwe are injured.

He had the choice of Clark/Tuima or a veteran like Launchbury to add some oomph.

Ted Hill clearly England’s best 6 can not get a chance for love nor money at more than token minutes in his preferred position.

England finally find an 8 who should have a minimum of 15 caps already by now and he is dropped.

Pollock who has been outplayed by Timmins and James in the 20s is somehow rewarded with a place on the bench.

Just bizarre.

Hopefully the Welsh can put us out of our misery and bring the shambolic Borthwick era to an end.

13 Go to comments

Brett McKay 2 hours ago

Statement win in Auckland gives Brumbies tools for Super Rugby success

Again Head High, that’s because it was written specifically about one game. You’re trying to read into it things that aren’t there..

15 Go to comments

JWH 2 hours ago

Stat chat: Clear favourite emerges as Sam Cane's All Blacks successor

Ah Kuoi at 6 which actually be a great shout tbh. Tall, physical, and explosive. I think Kirifi could be an international level 7 if he oculd stack on a bit of timber.

5 Go to comments

Clark Evans 3 hours ago

25 Six Nations Memorable Moments: 5 to 1

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1 Go to comments

J V 3 hours ago

'I have my opinion': Ntamack wades into Dupont injury debate

I just read the original interview (in French) and while the message is the same, the way he expressed it is more nuanced. This translation really makes him sound like a conceited guy.

Regarding Dupont’s injury, he will obviously be one of the least objective person around, but he does have a point : the key issue here is to further clarify the legality of this type of action (since a very similar case resulted in a yellow card in the WC final), rather than blaming individual players. I am entireley convinced the dangerous clear out by Tagdh Beirne was unintentional, yet it doesn’t mean it should be considered legal (see rugby laws, 9.20.e). Tens of unintentional gestures are penalized in rugby.

3 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 3 hours ago

How Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks are winning rugby's secret information war

Now that’s actually quite funny! 😂😂

5 Go to comments

GM 4 hours ago

Stat chat: Clear favourite emerges as Sam Cane's All Blacks successor

I think you state the case against Blackadder perfectly, Ned:

‘While his involvements are incredibly high, rarely does Blackadder win collisions against other international-level forwards with the ball in hand, even losing his side momentum with his carries when propelled backward.’

I would love to see Ardie at 7. I think right now he’s the only 7 we’ve got who is at or above the level of the best 7s internationally, guys like McWreight and Morgan. With Sititi as our first choice 8, that leaves our perennial post-Kaino problem - who’s going to play at 6? If Sititi is a genuine line out option (he was used that way last year), could we get away with a shorter, defensive oriented, breakdown savvy 6, like Papali’i, or maybe Jacobson? Or do we keep looking for a tight/loose beast with genuine line out ability? I would like to see Barrett (particularly with the quality of genuinely big locks coming through, like Holland and Darry and Lord) given some extended time there, and also Ah Kuoi, but Super Rugby is not conducive to that - you can get away with small locks.

5 Go to comments

JW 4 hours ago

How Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks are winning rugby's secret information war

“We don’t have egos in the team, and we believe in sharing responsibilities as coaches, so he will be a valuable asset to the coaching team”

Very interesting comment to make, goes along with the theory of increasing player lead programs and restrictions the RFU agreed to.

The reasons behind Jones’ sudden departure have never been clarified, but the outcome has been clear and obvious indeed.

What about his appointment. Was that any less out of the blue?

Great greed reference, Rassie has his hands on South Africa’s rugby revival, or is leading it, and is not willing to let it stop or become complacent.

5 Go to comments

Head high tackle 4 hours ago

Northern sides would toil in Super Rugby? The numbers say different

I think plenty of fans will be very keen to see the results and earn bragging rights too Nick. I feel it will be a popular comp. Lets hope the club championship is equally shared as to where it is played. Hopefully WR doesnt just hold it in the NH only like they are doing with the secondary test comp.

Alternate years in alternate hemispheres would be great. I would love to see all these top NH sides touring down under.

France sides will be weak if its in Aus, NZ, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa of course as their stars dont tour ( Sorry couldnt resist lol )

75 Go to comments

Head high tackle 5 hours ago

Northern sides would toil in Super Rugby? The numbers say different

There is also this thing around proof tho Nick.

The obvious point I suppose is that until these sides all play each other we will never have anything other than opinions around the results, so all we have to decide anything is that the combined country’s of the respective comps are either weaker or stronger.

The fact that SA are no 1 may well tell us that having players all over the world in different comps is the way to go. However I see SA dropping off a little this year and next… A bit like we are watching Ireland drop off.