Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Thursday January 23, 2025 at 8:15 p.m.
Suffering from an ankle, Duhan van der Merwe is very doubtful for Scotland's match against Italy to open the 6 Nations Tournament.
Will the Chardon XV have to do without its best player? On January 11, while Edinburgh won on the lawn of Vannes in the Challenge Cup, Duhan van der Merwe injured his ankle. A situation worrying enough for the Scottish selection that Gregor Townsend took the lead in calling Sale Sharks winger Arron Reed to compensate for a possible withdrawal of the player who passed through Montpellier during the 2016-2017 season. “We called Arron to cover for Duhan who is feeling some minor pain and we are monitoring the progress of his injury,” confirmed the Scottish coach in comments collected by the British daily The Times. While the Chardon XV must begin the 2025 6 Nations Tournament with the reception of Italy on February 1 on the Murrayfield lawn, this absence would be a serious handicap for the team which took third place in the competition last year.
Van der Merwe, not the only one absent
Indeed, Duhan van der Merwe has the ability to put any defense in difficulty thanks to his speed and his power. He notably made an impression in 2023 during Scotland's success against England with a try scored at the end of a race on half the field in the middle of the XV de la Rose defense. This absence could extend beyond the opening match, as Scotland face Ireland on February 9. In any case, Gregor Townsend must deal with a group that is already diminished since his captain Sione Tuipulotu is already out of the entire Tournament due to a pectoral muscle injury. Added to this are the injuries to Dylan Richardson to a shoulder and Scott Cummings to a forearm. Which does not necessarily bode well for the XV du Chardon, especially against a Squadra Azzurra which has been regaining color for several months and which will not make the trip as an expiatory victim.
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