Anxious Van der Merwe 'wee bit shocked' by Lions call

Duhan van der Merwe said he was in shock when named in the British & Lions squad.

The Scotland winger had multiple concerns ahead of the announcement and found it hard to smile in the aftermath because he was so drained.

The 29-year-old hasn't played since the end of March because of injury so was fretting over his place in the squad to travel to Australia.

"Since I've picked up the niggle, you have doubts and you start thinking, 'Is this going to have an effect on me going on the tour?'," he told BBC Scotland.

"Then you start taking yourself back to the Six Nations. Did I have my best Six Nations? Good at times, but probably a wee bit average at times.

"Then you start thinking, 'Am I the type of winger [Lions coach] Andy Farrell likes? You think about that every single day.

"So I'm definitely a wee bit shocked, but at the same time, I'm absolutely buzzing."

Van der Merwe watched the announcement at home with his wife and dogs.

He said his biggest focus now is to get himself fit and firing for the end of Edinburgh's URC season, in the hope that they make the knockouts.

"I'm doing well with the injury," he said. "I ran yesterday and got up to a very good speed. I'll definitely be back towards the end of May.

"I've got to get myself out there again. I want to be fit and in shape and ready to play my best rugby. But right now, I need to go home and get a beer."

Van der Merwe made the last Lions tour, but that one was played in Covid times and he expects this one to be an altogether different affair.

"Four years ago, I'd only played for Scotland maybe eight or 10 times, so I guess I didn't really expect anything. This time around, I really want to experience it with our fans.

"I was a lot more nervous than four years ago."