The South African at the heart of the Scarlets revival
01/28/2025 05:06 AM
SPOTLIGHT: The Scarlets' improvement from last season has been clear to see. Dwayne Peel's side looks to be a much more well-rounded outfit compared to previous seasons.
They sit sixth in the United Rugby Championship standings and will fancy their chances of making it to the play-offs.
The Llanelli-based side has increased its investment in overseas players in recent years, especially in the forward pack, but has brought in talents like Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, and Alec Hepburn.
However, one signing has stood out more than the rest: Marnus van der Merwe.
The South African has added a tremendous amount to the Scarlets and will be crucial to the team going forward.
(Continue below ...)
The Career of Marnus van der Merwe
Van der Merwe is at the stage of his career where he has the perfect blend of talent and experience.
The South African brings an abundance of skill wherever he goes, and he will look to make his mark in West Wales sooner rather than later. It is safe to say he is well on his way to securing a place in Scarlets fans' hearts by delivering sensational performances week in and week out.
Looking at his career before moving to the Northern Hemisphere, Van der Merwe had a strong foundation to build on.
The hooker rose through the Cheetahs Academy and was a staple of the squad throughout his time with the side from Bloemfontein.
The 27-year-old achieved a lot with the Cheetahs, including making his PRO14 debut in 2018 and being part of the Currie Cup-winning side five years later.
Van der Merwe has a very versatile skill set. He is an unstoppable force when carrying the ball but also an immovable object in defence.
However, what makes him stand out is the physicality he brings to the field. As stated before, he is an abrasive ball carrier, and you always feel like he has that extra bit of bite when charging at defences.
Exposing oneself to a new environment is always essential, as it helps a player grow tremendously.
Adapting to the challenges of the Northern Hemisphere game will be key.
Van der Merwe is a great talent and will be crucial to the Scarlets' rebuilding project toward future success.
[rp-comp-table data="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"][/rp-comp-table]
Scarlets Right Now
The improvement from the Scarlets from last season to this season is night and day.
Peel's side looks like a relatively complete outfit, and they will be looking to make their mark in both the URC and Europe. They have put in some great performances and should have won more than they have.
The Llanelli-based outfit is coming off a fantastic win against Edinburgh in the URC.
This season has been a massive improvement from previous years for the Welsh club.
Thanks to some smart recruitment and players competing with confidence, they have a good foundation to go out and achieve great results.
The Scarlets have several highly talented athletes in their squad.
Van der Merwe has been the signing of the season, bringing a well-rounded skill set and a sensational amount of physicality to the West Walian forward pack.
Ioan Lloyd brings a fantastic amount of attacking flair whenever he takes to the field, and he will be looking to finish his time with the Scarlets on a high and attempt to collect silverware before his move to the Welsh capital.
Blair Murray has burst onto the scene as a sensational wing who knows how to cause trouble for the opposition and get over the try line.
The team knows how to get the job done and has already caused problems for big sides this season. As stated before, van der Merwe has already made an enormous difference to the side.
[rp-mc-game id="204|942311|2025"][/rp-mc-game][rp-mc-game id="204|942319|2025"][/rp-mc-game][rp-mc-game id="204|942329|2025"][/rp-mc-game]
Already Making an Impact
When van der Merwe joined the Scarlets, it was uncertain how much game time he would get at Parc y Scarlets.
This was because Ryan Elias had cemented himself as the top choice for the No.2 jersey.
However, during the early parts of the season, the former Cheetah's impact could be seen even when coming off the bench. He helped his side secure massive results as a substitute, especially on a cold Friday night in West Wales when the Scarlets dispatched their South African counterparts, the Bulls.
Since Elias' injury, Van der Merwe has seamlessly stepped into the starting role. When the Welsh international returns from injury, it will be interesting to see how the competition for the No.2 jersey plays out. He has successfully blended his stoic physicality with the open, expansive style of rugby the Scarlets relish.
Additionally, Van der Merwe has brought a sense of stability to the set pieces, especially in the line-out. From a statistical perspective in the URC particularly, the hooker is on track for a sensational year. In set pieces, he has won 80 line-outs, ranking sixth in the league. A strong set piece is crucial as it provides a stable platform for launching attacks.
Defensively, he has been a rock, registering 87 tackles with a success rate of 86 percent.
He has also secured five turnovers for the first team.
Van der Merwe's biggest strength is ball carrying, as shown by his 157 meters gained, along with beating 13 defenders and making three clean breaks.
These stats show that whenever he has the ball in his hands, the South African has the power to break down a defensive line.
The numbers above demonstrate that van der Merwe has been one of the standout players for the Scarlets and will look to carry on this good form as the season progresses.
An International Call-up Beckoning
No nation across the planet can match South Africa in terms of player pool and depth.
The strength and depth of the Springboks squad is remarkable, and head coach Rassie Erasmus has an embarrassment of riches in terms of player selection.
It will always be difficult for a player like van der Merwe to break into such a loaded team. Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi have established themselves as the top options in the middle of the front row.
However, Van der Merwe's stature in South African rugby has grown, as reflected by his inclusion in the 43-man Springbok alignment camp, showing that he is on the radar of the South African coaching team. His performances for the Scarlets will be vital in showcasing the impact he can make in top-tier competitions such as the URC and prestigious European tournaments.
He brings a unique blend of physicality and finesse, making him a potential standout international prospect.
Van der Merwe's impact on the Scarlets has already made him the signing of the season in the URC.
As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how the Scarlets fare in their push for play-off spots and Challenge Cup success. Looking at the bigger picture, if van der Merwe continues to deliver standout performances, his chance to don the green and gold jersey may come sooner than expected.
By Peter Ryan
@rugby365com
