NEW ULSTER SECOND row Franco van der Merwe says he is more than happy to run the province’s line-out as he gets set to replace retired captain Johann Muller in Belfast.
Van der Merwe, who was capped once by South Africa, left his home country due to a build-up of quality competition in the locking department, ending an eight-season spell in Super Rugby with the Lions and the Sharks.
Now he is tasked with taking over from Muller, a man whose reputation at Ulster is superb.
“I knew Johann was quite a big deal over here, but now that I’m here I can see he’s an even bigger deal than I thought,” says van der Merwe. “There’s no reason for me to reinvent the wheel. I can only stick to what I’ve done in the previous seasons.
That’s the reason why Ulster phoned me, because of what I’ve done. I’m going to try do my basics 100%. Hopefully, if it goes well I might fit my feet into his shoes!”
One of the greatest demands on van der Merwe’s shoulders this season will be to ensure that Ulster’s line-out, so strong under Muller’s calling, does not decline.
While Robbie Diack is a strong communicator out of touch too, 31-year-old van der Merwe would be entirely comfortable running Ulster’s line-out, even if he jokes that he is “still looking” for Muller’s playbook.
“Yes, I used to call the line-outs with the Sharks and with the Lions as well, and the bit that I was with the Boks. I’m comfortable with doing that and I like doing it. I’ve got a bit of a passion for line-outs and contesting, so hopefully that goes well on this side as well.”
The addition of van der Merwe may give Ulster an improvement in ball-carrying options too, an area where Muller perhaps shone less brightly. At 6ft 6ins and over 116kg, the new man certainly has the bulk to be effective in contact.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” says van der Merwe. “I like to be where the ball is. Maybe sometimes I like to play a bit more with the ball, rather than carrying it. In different conditions here, maybe I’ll have to adapt to a different style of play.”
Despite his advanced years, the South African is highly motivated for his foray into European rugby and the chance to prove his worth anew. Van der Merwe has never struggled for desire in his career, a product of his earliest years.
In South Africa, I started playing when I was six years old in the countryside. There had been opportunities for me to move to a big school, but I was glad to have my family and friends around. It is a bit difficult in the countryside because you don’t get the attention the big schools get.
“I learned from a young age that you need to work hard; I need to work harder than everyone else. For me, it was always a treat to play against the city boys and give them a bit of a hiding.
“I think that was a motivation and I think that’s part of my character now. Whenever anyone speaks about a big team, or a dude in the other side that’s a big name, that’s a massive challenge. I think it’s part of my nature now, from the way I learned to give them a hiding because they’re the so-called ‘big names’.”
