The Scots celebrated a historic fourth consecutive Six Nations triumph over the English, with Van der Merwe leading the charge in a match that will be remembered for years to come.
The hulking winger, who had already dazzled at Twickenham with two tries last year, outdid himself with a trio of scorching scores that left the visitors in his wake. Meanwhile, George Furbank and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso savoured their maiden England tries, but the day belonged to Van der Merwe and his headline-stealing heroics, complemented by Finn Russell’s flawless kicking game.
Both teams entered the fray with two wins apiece from their first three outings, setting the stage for a titanic clash. It’s been over a century since Scotland last strung together four wins against England in this venerable competition, a feat last achieved under the reign of Queen Victoria in 1896. Under Gregor Townsend’s astute leadership, Scotland has now notched five wins and a draw against England in seven encounters, a statistic that will surely be savoured by the tartan faithful.
Despite Scotland being the bookies’ slight favourites, early on, it seemed the script might not go their way, with England snatching a 10-0 lead as errors plagued the Scottish side. But then, like a bolt from the blue, Van der Merwe ignited, kick-starting Scotland’s resurgence with a breathtaking burst of pace and power, leaving English defenders clutching at thin air.
BBC pundit Ugo Monye could barely contain his awe, dubbing Van der Merwe’s performance as ‘outlandish, first-class brilliance’. By halftime, Scotland had flipped the script, leading 17-13 despite limited forays into the English 22.
The second half saw Scotland’s dominance cemented, with Van der Merwe completing his hat-trick off a perfectly timed Russell punt, sending the Murrayfield crowd into delirium. Russell’s boot continued to punish England, securing Scotland’s grip on the game.
Even a late yellow card couldn’t dampen Van der Merwe’s spirits, his big smile reflecting the jubilation of a nation as Scotland clinched a memorable victory. England, meanwhile, will be left to rue missed opportunities and a game that slipped through their fingers, despite a valiant effort led by Jamie George in the wake of personal tragedy, with the recent passing of his mum.
Scotland’s triumph, powered by Van der Merwe’s historic hat-trick, sends a resounding message across the rugby world, with England left to ponder what might have been in the aftermath of Murrayfield’s latest epic.
