Unquestionably, he is one of many best finishers in Check rugby proper now. Duhan van der Merwe took simply 46 minutes to attain a hat-trick in opposition to England within the Six Nations earlier within the yr. That is how coruscating he might be. In opposition to Glasgow? Largely nameless.
We did not see an entire lot of him the final day, which is constant along with his performances within the fixture lately. He has scored one 1872 strive in his final 11 video games. As a risk, he is been one thing of a mirage.
That is what Edinburgh are, although? They’re an phantasm. A workforce that appears pretty sturdy on paper however one which solely often fronts up. What number of extra occasions have they got to be pilloried for his or her failures earlier than they stand up and begin doing one thing about it?
The humiliation in opposition to Glasgow at Hampden was simply the newest in an extended collection of abject outcomes. Now and again they throw in a efficiency that gives hope earlier than lurching again into mediocrity quickly after. They have been going nowhere for a very long time now.
And that reality makes the renewal of Van der Merwe’s profitable contract all of the extra questionable. Good for Scotland however not good for Edinburgh, who might do with utilizing that warchest to strengthen at half-back and midfield, the place they’re thus far off Glasgow’s degree it is virtually embarrassing.
They’re sitting ninth within the desk. Final season t,hey completed tenth and the season earlier than it was twelfth. Progress of a form, maybe. However, with a finances in extra of £6m a season, it is a dreadfully low return.