The Emirates Lions may be looking for a new lease on their season after suffering setbacks in both the EPCR Challenge Cup and Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaigns, but for their star backline player Edwill van der Merwe, the quest is so much bigger than 80 minutes of rugby.
Van der Merwe, who got his shot on the right wing for the Springboks in the test match against Wales at Twickenham last year, had a superb debut and scored an amazing try in the process to make quite an impression.
But then injury struck and Van der Merwe never quite got back into a Bok side that has more than enough competition on the wing at the moment.
The Lions fortunes haven’t been exceptional despite an excellent start to the season. Losses against Leinster, Munster, Ospreys and the DHL Stormers have left the side with much to ponder over the Christmas period, and Van der Merwe is one of them.
So its a simple answer when he is asked what his hopes are in terms of new year’s resolutions.
It’s as simple as green and gold.
“On the field, I want to get back into the Bok group. I would love to play more games for the Springboks,” Van der Merwe smiled as he answered .
Right now, all he can do is hope to put in some excellent performances, much like the ones that caught the eye of the national management last season, and hope to be recalled this year to get another chance.
“That is where my focus is, and I know the only way I am going to achieve that is to constantly play well for the Lions, to be a good team man. So that is my New Year’s resolution,” he added.
This weekend against Montpellier - a tough side that has three Springboks in their ranks in Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg - the Lions will undergo another test that could determine their chances in the Challenge Cup this season.
So while less focus may be on the Challenge Cup, for the Lions it is just as big. And Montpellier looms large for them.
“Obviously we’ve done our analysis, and they are quite a physical team – big forwards – and they are a team who love attacking. So, we expect a running game from them, but they are also quite well-balanced with their kicking game as well.
“A well-rounded team, very well coached, so it will be a good challenge for us.For us as a team, it’s about getting back to winning ways, so that will be the focus for this weekend.”
“So, it will be a really good challenge for us, and the thing with international players is they know how to play in the right areas and game management and that type of thing – if you look at Stuart Hogg, who’s been playing flyhalf for them.
“Obviously we are a South African team as well and we pride ourselves on physicality, so we won’t just go there to match whatever they bring. We want to dominate in every facet of the game. We are very excited at the prospect.”
The Lions will name their side on Friday for the clash.