‘Angry warthog’ knows the challenges ahead
JOHANNESBURG: He was called the “angry warthog” by former Springbok coach Nick Mallett last year and after his match-winning try against the Bulls last weekend many believe the Lions need Armand “Akker” van der Merwe in their starting team.
The burly hooker has been a powerful addition to the Lions team since joining from Pukke last season, but he’s yet to cement a starting place, with Bok tourist Robbie Coetzee still preferred at No 2 by coach Johan Ackermann.
It would seem Van der Merwe, who announced his arrival against Western Province with a man-of-thematch performance in September last year, still has some work to do before he convinces Ackermann he’s the man to wear the No 2 jersey.
“Akker has been exceptional for us off the bench for a while now and I don’t want to tag him as a bench player, but there are some things he, and the other hookers, have to still work on,” said Ackermann yesterday.
“Akker will get his chance to start, but right now we’re look- ing for more consistency in our scrums and lineouts and it really comes down to a gut feeling who starts and who plays off the bench.
“Akker knows the lenges ahead of him.”
The image of Van der Merwe, with his right fist raised and screaming in delight after his match-winner last week, will live long in the memory of Lions fans.
Ackermann is hoping for the same sort of impact this weekend when the Sharks visit Ellis Park. “I just hope it’s not so late in the game this time,” he said.