By David Williams
Wales have been warned by Scotland hero Duhan van der Merwe that they now fancy their chances against any team in the world.
Warren Gatland’s team – humbled by a 34-10 opening Six Nations defeat at home to Ireland – now have to go to Murrayfield on Saturday to face a Scottish side riding the crest of a wave.
Scotland winger van der Merwe admits he “giggles” when he watches his Twickenham wonder try.
The Edinburgh player stunned the home support when he ran from his own half and evaded five English tackles to touch down for his first try in Scotland’s Calcutta Cup win.
“I’ve obviously seen it a couple of times,” he said. “I still can’t believe I’ve done that.
“I giggle when I watch it, but obviously for me personally it’s my best try I’ve ever scored. Looking back at it, just absolutely buzzing.”
Van der Merwe later scored another brilliantly-finished try following an excellent team move that earned Scotland a 29-23 victory.
A scintillating run from winger Duhan van der Merwe and an early contender for try of the tournament. Scotland lead England 12-5 at Twickenham
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With three home games and a trip to France to come in the Guinness Six Nations, he was asked how far Gregor Townsend’s side can go in the tournament.
“We have to take it game by game,” he said. “We have to focus on Wales this weekend.
“But also we believe that we can go and beat every single team out there because we’re a really, really tight group and we play for each other. So why not?”
Van Der Merwe sensationally lit up Twickenham with the second of the visitors’ four tries in a Guinness Six Nations classic.
The British and Irish Lion proved to be the match-winner by plundering a decisive second try six minutes from time to ruin Steve Borthwick’s start as England boss.
Yet emotional head coach Townsend was left purring about Van Der Merwe’s majestic 28th-minute effort as he toasted a famous bonus-point victory.
https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/1622671477102321684?s=20&t=dn6i9mr-ySnPN-2AYDtyIg
He said: “It was incredible, wasn’t it? It reminded me of when, for everybody of a certain age, you played Jonah Lomu Rugby and suddenly one person can go quicker.
“Duhan hasn’t had much rugby over the last few weeks. He’s trained really well with us but to play like he did today on the back of an injury, and not playing for Edinburgh, is a real testament to how he’s got himself in this position, both mentally and physically.
“And I almost saw a different side to Duhan there as he stepped and then accelerated away.
“His finish for the last try was similar to two years ago (an 11-6 victory) when he finished in the opposite corner.
“It was a brilliant finish but that first try was amazing, and one that gets the Scotland supporters going crazy in the stand and silences everyone else because you don’t see tries like that very often.”