Fit-again Van der Merwe keen to do an Italian job for Glasgow

SEAN Lineen admitted the other day that every game for Glasgow is now must-win and his side’s match against Treviso in Italy this afternoon is no different.

With just two games to play in the regular season, the Warriors have a seemingly easier finish than some of their competitors for a play-off spot, with the Irish provinces already having taken points off each other. Ulster lost to Leinster on Friday evening and, if Munster defeated Scarlets last night, one win from their final two games would see Glasgow safely into the play-offs.

Having last made the play-offs two years ago, when the Warriors lost to the Ospreys in Swansea, everyone is aware of the benefits of home advantage but that looks beyond Lineen’s men after the Ospreys beat the Dragons on Friday. Even with two bonus-point wins from their final two matches Glasgow would only draw level with the Welsh high-flyers, who would remain above them on the basis of having won more matches over the season – even in the unlikely event that they fall to Aironi in their final match.

To their credit, the Warriors have lived up to their name in the current campaign and their strong league form this season is all the more surprising since they have been without the services of DTH van der Merwe since the World Cup.

The South African/Canadian, wing/centre was the club’s top try scorer last season with a very healthy 12 touchdowns in all competitions. He was third-top try scorer in the league overall, behind Edinburgh’s Tim Visser and Aled Brew of the Dragons.

Van der Merwe took his excellent form into the World Cup with Canada where he scored a try against Japan but then injured his shoulder against France and compounded the problem by continuing to play, including the final match against the All Blacks.

“I knew I had injured the shoulder but I didn’t know if I needed surgery or if I could get away with rehab,” said the player, right.

“I probably aggravated things by playing on but in the World Cup you want to push through the pain and give your best on such a big stage.”

The answer to his questions was that he needed both. It took surgery and six months of rehabilitation to get his shoulder back to the wheel but he insists that it is now good to go.

After so long on the sidelines he is desperately hoping for game time this afternoon, not that he is expecting to walk straight back into the side.

“I was top try scorer last season but look at the guys who have stepped up to the plate this year. Tommy Seymour is a new signing and Freddie (Arambaru) has played really well and Alex Dunbar too. They just show the sort of strength in depth at the club these days.

“Obviously we can’t leave it up to other sides to do us a favour in the last two rounds and our fate is very much in our own hands. As things stand the top five or six clubs could still make the play-offs and anyone can beat anyone else on their day.”

Van der Merwe’s finishing power could yet prove vital in getting Glasgow over the line, especially against a stuffy side such as Treviso, who have claimed some notable scalps on their home turf.

Elsewhere John Barclay is favoured over Johnnie Beattie in the middle of the back row and Graham Morrison returns to action in the midfield as Glasgow go in search of vital points.

Treviso have only won two of their last 13 matches in all competitions but they beat the Dragons in Wales last weekend and they did beat the Warriors in Glasgow at the start of the season. Revenge for that result will do nicely for Lineen’s side this afternoon.