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Ex-Scotland 10 makes previously unthinkable Duhan van der Merwe call
By Josh Raisey
Former Scotland fly-half Ruaridh Jackson has asserted that Glasgow Warriors winger Kyle Steyn is a better player than Duhan van der Merwe and should start ahead of him for Scotland.
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Steyn led Glasgow Warriors to an unexpected United Rugby Championship title win this season, defeating the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in the final on Saturday a week after beating then-reigning champions Munster at Thomond Park.
The 30-year-old has been magnificent for the Warriors since returning from injury in January, which led to Jackson making this comparison between the two players on X, saying the only thing van der Merwe can do better is “score the odd freak try”.
There is no denying that 2021 British & Irish Lions wing possesses that oft-overused ‘X-factor’ in Test rugby standing at 1.93m and weighing 106kg, and he has a highlights reel to back that up.
While the fellow South African-born Scot does not have a highlights reel to rival the Edinburgh wing’s, there are few, if any, weaknesses in his game.
Something I’ve said for a long time but wonder if more people agree now. Kyle Steyn is better than Duhan VDM. Only thing VDM can do better is score the odd freak try.
Scotland back 3 should be Darcy, Steyn, kinghorn and bring VDM on against tired defences.
— Ruaridh Jackson (@ruaridh_jackson) June 23, 2024
“Something I’ve said for a long time but wonder if more people agree now,” the 33-cap Scot wrote on X.
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“Kyle Steyn is better than Duhan VDM. Only thing VDM can do better is score the odd freak try.
“Scotland back 3 should be Darcy, Steyn, kinghorn and bring VDM on against tired defences.”
Of course, there are two wing berths that can be shared between Steyn and van der Merwe for Scotland, as they did for much of the Six Nations this year. However, Jackson believes the other spot should be taken by Darcy Graham, with van der Merwe being used from the bench to exploit tired defences.
Graham’s pace and agility make him just as potent as van der Merwe out wide, so Scotland would not be lacking in individual brilliance should Gregor Townsend follow Jackson’s advice. He has, however, been beset by injuries recently and will miss Scotland’s July tour as he recovers from surgery to his groin, meaning Jackson will not get to see his preferred back three of Graham, Steyn and Blair Kinghorn at fullback.
Scotland’s upcoming July series, against Canada, the USA, Chile and Uruguay, perhaps affords Townsend the opportunity to experiment more than he usually would during a Test window, meaning it may not even be Steyn and van der Merwe starting on either flank.
The uncapped Arron Reed will surely get plenty of game time over the coming weeks to prove what he can do, as will the four-cap Kyle Rowe and the one-cap Harry Paterson in the back three.
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Van der Merwe has been a mainstay of the Scotland line-up in recent seasons, but with Fiji, South Africa, Portugal and Australia visiting in November, Townsend will want to field his preferred back three and it will be interesting to see if van der Merwe is part of it.
Jacko is not often wrong and he's right again. Duhan has an attacking X factor, but Steyn is a much more rounded winger.
He is also Scottish
This decision is not ‘previously unthinkable’ if you have any decent level of rugby knowledge. I have said since the 2023 six nations that duhan should not play against top tier sides. Despite being a great runner with the ball, every other aspect of his game is next to non-existent. He also shys away and tends to get no successful carries against good teams that can actually defend. Steyn on the other hand is one of the safest all round wingers in the world. Darcy Graham is our attacking winger, steyn should be the safe one.
Doesnt take a genius to work this one out.
Vs south Africa in the world Cup, they wpuld not have scored the cross field kick try is steyn was playing, because he wpuldn’t have wandered 30 meters from his touchline to make 0 impact
He has scored some really crappy tries against Tier 1 opposition. That poor effort against England springs to mind. What is wrong with you guys?? In the opposition 22 who would you rather give the ball to, DVDM or Steyn. Do me a favour, the little errors he makes are far outweighed by his try scoring ability. Roger Federer hit some really wayward forehands, he should have been banned immediately from playing tennis!! All the greats have weaknesses but their strengths outweigh them and that is why they are greats!!
Interesting that SA known for the “size” or “bulk” of its players make use of pocket battleships like Colby and Arendse on the wing. And then another v d Merwe joins them.
The algorithm has censored my comment about his horrible defence and inability to do anything in attack against poor wingers, guess this is why people are only realising this now
Actual scottish fans who watch and understand every game have had this opinion for a while
People have been saying this for years though 😂
He’s living off a highlight reel from playing against shit wingers that can’t tackle. Then when he plays against teams like South Africa France or Ireland he just shuffles sideways and that’s not even getting into his defence, Ireland in the 2023 six nations scored two tries in his lane one of which scored by Conan was incredibly defendable.
Both South Africans. Will Scotland not invest in Scottish youth rugby to produce Scottish players or are they hooked on off the shelf Saffers?
Saffers in rugby are like Brazilians in soccer: you might see them in any national team.
SAFers are a quick fix for other countries as there is quite a bit of talent and good training at the youth levels…Scotland, Ireland and England have all partaken at some point
If it’s in the rules then it’s in the rules. Complain about the rules by all means but about teams who use them to their advantage. Most teams do to one degree or another although Scotland do take it to extremes and it would be better for them if they had a successful youth setup needs must and they are doing what they have to do.