Duhan van der Merwe leads emerging trend of rugby’s wonder wingers

Thrilling long-range efforts unquestionably enhance the sport’s appeal – there is no better sight in rugby union.

FLYING SCOTSMAN: Duhan van der Merwe scores a try against England at the weekend. Pic: INPHO/Craig Watson

The hunt has been on for years. Will there ever be another onrushing winger formidable enough to be mentioned in the same breath as the late, great Jonah Lomu? Plenty have auditioned, from the fearsome Alesana Tuilagi and Nemani Nadolo to the massive Taqele Naiyaravoro and Joe Cokanasiga, without managing to beat Lomu’s career tally of 37 tries in 63 Tests between 1994 and 2002.

Increasingly, though, there is a new challenger. While Duhan van der Merwe may be nowhere near Lomu’s physical dimensions, he is an imposing enough specimen at 106kg and 1.93 metres tall. And last Saturday, amid the hurly-burly of Scotland’s Six Nations win over England, his Calcutta Cup hat-trick stretched his career tally to 26 tries in only 37 Tests since his debut against Georgia in October 2020.