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'Me, Blair and Duhan complement each other really' - Edinburgh trio's impressive Scotland impact
By PA
Darcy Graham was excited to finally link up with his Edinburgh back three colleagues for Scotland – and cap it off by weighing in with at least a try each. Graham scored two tries in the 48-7 friendly win over Georgia, while fellow winger Duhan van der Merwe scored on his debut before Blair Kinghorn got in on the act in the final moments.
“It was unreal,” Graham said. “I know what Duhan can do, he has done it for three years for Edinburgh, he has been outstanding. Me, Blair and Duhan complement each other really well so it was really exciting to have our whole Edinburgh back three.
“It was the first time we have all scored in the same game so it was quite nice for us all. I kind of know what Blair is going to do before he knows it. I always give him room to work off. It definitely helps knowing what they are going to do, it does make a huge difference.
“Duhan has fitted right in and has not looked out of place. The Scotland camp is a great environment and these boys can easily slip in and it showed on Friday, he didn’t look nervous at all and he took everything in his stride.”
Graham is now looking to take the positives into Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales at the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.
The 23-year-old made his debut on the same stage two years ago and scored his first international try against the same opponents at BT Murrayfield the following year. However, both games ended in defeats. Now, with seven tries in eleven international appearances to his name, Graham is looking to go one better against Wales, who are three points behind Scotland in fifth place.
Graham said: “We are only going to get a few chances so we are going to have to take them when they’re on. Two years ago on my first cap we never did that, we had a few chances and didn’t execute them and ended up losing the game. So when we get our chances on Saturday we are going to have to be clinical and finish them off.”
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Latest Comments
A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!
The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.
Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)
I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.
This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).
This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.
Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!
Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍
Go to commentsWouldn’t mind seeing that grounding in slow mo there. Too much to ask?
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