Formidable: van der Merwe

AKKER van der Merwe earned rich praise after a formidable display helped inspire Sale to a hard-earned victory. The hooker is among a large South African contingent in Steve
Diamond’s squad and was on the scoresheet yesterday with a third home try. He was signed earlier this year from Super Rugby outfit Cell- C Sharks and is proving a big hit in Manchester. Diamond said: “He’s a great player and we knew it when Faf (de Klerk) recommended him.
“In Super Rugby, he and Coenie Oosthuzien were the leading tryscorers for two seasons, so we know...