1872 Cup: Edinburgh’s motivation to prove people wrong remains the same as Glasgow Warriors visit
There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest finishers in Test rugby at the moment. Earlier this year, Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick in just 46 minutes against England in the Six Nations. This is his light. Against Glasgow? Largely anonymous.
We didn’t see much of him on the final day, which is consistent with his performance in recent years. In his last 11 games, he has made 1,872 field goals. As a threat, he was a mirage.
But is this Edinburgh? They are just an illusion. A team that looks pretty strong on paper, but only plays occasionally. How many more times do they have to be laughed at for their failures before they stand up and start taking action?
The humiliation against Glasgow at Hampden was just the latest in a string of tragic results. At times, their performances offer hope, only to lapse into mediocrity soon after. They haven’t been anywhere for a long time.
This fact makes Van der Merwe’s lucrative contract extension even more questionable. This is good for Scotland but bad for Edinburgh, who can use their deep midfield to strengthen their centre-backs and midfield, but they are so far from Glasgow’s level in that regard that it’s almost embarrassing.
They are ninth in the standings. Last season they were 10th and the season before that they were 12th. Maybe some kind of progress. However, with a budget of over £6 million per season, the returns are woefully low.
