Scottish Van der Merwe wings his way to World Cup

The Springboks’ pool B rivals Scotland have included Duhan van der Merwe in their Rugby World Cup squad, despite the winger limping off injured against France in St Etienne last Saturday.

Van der Merwe did himself a mischief with Scotland on the attack in the second half but remained on the field. He rounded off a try a few minutes later but appeared in discomfort before gingerly departing the scene.

Van der Merwe joins fellow wing Kyle Steyn, and props WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman as the South African-born contingent in Scotland’s squad.

Gregor Townsend’s squad, with Jamie Ritchie at the helm, features 19 forwards and 14 backs. The squad boasts 14 players each from Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, two from Bath and one each from Toulon and Gloucester. Prop Rory Sutherland is unattached.

Flank Ritchie is one of 15 players who represented Scotland at the last World Cup, while Nel, flyhalf Finn Russell, locks Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist are all set for a third campaign at the game’s show piece tournament. Flank Jack Dempsey represented Australia at the last World Cup.

Prop Zander Fagerson, hooker George Turner, lock Scott Cummings, flank Hamish Watson, wing Darcy Graham, centre Chris Harris, fullback Blair Kinghorn and scrumhalves George Horne and Ali Price all played in Japan four years ago.

Scotland will have seven players with more than 50 caps, with Gray the most experienced with 75. Nel, the former Western Province, Boland and Cheetahs’ tight-head is the eldest at 37 years old.

At the other end of the clock fullback Ollie Smith is the youngest member of the squad, while Ben Healy is the least tested with just two appearances for Scotland.

Townsend opted to leave out hooker Stuart McInally who had hoped to bow out after the tournament. George Turner, Ewen Ashman and Dave Cherry are his hookers.

After consecutive wins in their warm-up Tests against Italy and France at Murrayfield, Scotland suffered a narrow defeat to France last weekend. They will round off their World Cup preparations with a clash against Georgia in Edinburgh, Saturday week.

Scotland meet the Springboks in their World Cup opener in Marseille on September 10.

Scotland World Cup squad

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors),
Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie (both Edinburgh), Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson (all Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Javan Sebastian, Sam Skinner (all Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (unattached),
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)

Backs: Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Chris Harris (Gloucester), Ben Healy (Edinburgh), George Horne, Huw Jones (both Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh),
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Redpath, Finn Russell (both Bath), Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu (all Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon)