“Yes”, Edwill van der Merwe will tell you, with a chortle, when asked if he will be sporting a new scrum cap this weekend, “I have signed with Gilbert recently.”
So, there you have it.
And with the most important question out of the way, the Springbok wing can also reveal that he has recovered from injury and is ready to start his United Rugby Championship campaign with the Lions.
Edwill van der Merwe is back, ouens, and will return for the @LionsRugbyCo in the @URCOfficial this weekend against @EdinburghRugby
Springbok No 935 is lus for action, and shared some thoughts with us on Thursday from Ellis Park@IOLsport @IOL @TheStar_news pic.twitter.com/7WZVlGMc8k
The Joburgers face a stacked Edinburgh at Ellis Park tomorrow (1.45pm kick-off), and Van der Merwe is earmarked to make his return then.
Yesterday during training in Doornfontein, the 28-year-old was running drills on the book-end of the backline, with Rabz Maxwane propping up the other end.
Van der Merwe suffered a devastating ankle injury earlier this year, just after making his Bok debut against Wales in a Player-of-the-Match performance.
Any person would be justifiably downcast after such a major setback, but Van der Merwe was in a cheerful mood as he explained his road back to full health.
Said Van der Merwe: “I have been through enough disappointments in my life to know how to pick myself back up.
“It is a process of believing in yourself, and remembering who I am and what I can do.
“I don’t put too much pressure on myself. It is always more about enjoying myself because that is when I play my best rugby. This weekend is about going back to basics, and being Edwill by enjoying myself and playing with a smile.”
Although jis muscles and bones might be ready, the battle with the mind over the past few weeks to trust in his body will have been equally important.
Van der Merwe exuded confidence in that aspect of his preparation, too, stating emphatically: “I know I am ready for this weekend.”
While involved in the Bok set-up, it became quite apparent that Van der Merwe had impressed Bok coach Rassie Erasmus and Co with his work ethic.
Equally, Van der Merwe returned to a Lions set-up with a bit more knowledge and three other teammates – Ruan Venter, Morné van den Berg, and Quan Horn – now designated as Boks.
Joburg sessions 🏉☀️ pic.twitter.com/oQ9aefZsJS
— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) October 3, 2024
It might have been a short Bok stint due to that unfortunate injury, but it was an invaluable experience, as Van der Merwe explained.
“There are a lot of times that you think you are working hard, but when you review it, you see that there is actually so much more you can do. When I was at the Boks, it was something that was highlighted,” said the speedster from Kylemore, near Stellenbosch.
“My first training was 15v10, so on the blindside, there was no one really there. I made a tackle, and the ball went the other way and I stood up and walked back.
“When we got back to the hotel – there is always a review before dinner – they put it on the big screen. Coach (Mzwandile) Stick said that, ‘If you want to play for the Boks, that isn’t going to work here... you cannot be walking’.
“Edinburgh are a quality side and they have a lot of Scottish internationals playing in their team. I am looking forward to an almost Test-match feel this weekend.”
“It is a mindset of constantly being on the move, never walking and constantly looking for the next job. That is something that I have shared with this group (at the Lions).”
Edinburgh, meanwhile, will provide Van der Merwe a stern test of his fitness. They have a lethal backline, which includes a back-three of Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Wes Goosen.
“Edinburgh are a quality side and they have a lot of Scottish internationals playing in their team,” said Van der Merwe.
“I am looking forward to an almost Test-match feel this weekend, especially with the halfbacks they have.
“We are expecting a bit of a kicking game from them. Guys like Ali Price know how to control the tempo of the game.
“On the wings, they will be a good challenge with Duhan and Darcy – they are incredibly fast and great finishers,” he concluded.