Scotland powerhouse Duhan van der Merwe looks set to end the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour as the leading try-scorer \u2013 despite being completely snubbed for all three Test matches.<\/p>\n
In a baffling call that\u2019s left fans fuming, the winger watched from the sidelines once again as the Lions wrapped up the series without him. Instead, head coach Andy Farrell opted to hand a start on the wing to fullback Blair Kinghorn \u2013 Van der Merwe\u2019s Scotland teammate \u2013 for the final Test.<\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel\u00a0<\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t end there.<\/p>\n As doubts loomed over Tommy Freeman\u2019s fitness ahead of the decider, rumours swirled that Farrell was ready to throw centre Huw Jones onto the wing \u2013 a move many saw as nothing short of disrespectful to Scotland\u2019s all-time top try scorer.<\/p>\n One angry fan wrote: Another vented: It didn\u2019t take long for the online fury to ignite:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat more does he have to do? Break a world record?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t selection, this is sabotage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKinghorn on the wing, Jones maybe on the wing\u2026 yet Duhan gets a stadium tour. Unreal.\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever\u2019s going on behind the scenes, the decision to sideline the electric winger \u2013 who has been lighting up the midweek games with tries for fun \u2013 is one of the great mysteries of this tour.<\/p>\n And if he finishes top of the charts without a Test cap, it\u2019ll only add to the growing chorus of fans asking the question:\u00a0what exactly did Duhan van der Merwe do wrong?<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n \u201cTragic ending\u201d \u2013 Five Lions players who flopped in final test against Australia<\/p>\n Amid torrential rain, brutal conditions, and a hostile home crowd, several key Lions players failed to deliver when it mattered most. <\/p>\n From costly handling errors to poor decision-making and defensive lapses, these five players stood out for all the wrong reasons as the Wallabies sealed a memorable victory.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the Lions\u2019 biggest disappointments on a night that ended in heartbreak.<\/p>\n #1. Bundee Aki<\/p>\n Struggled in wet conditions, initially promising with strong carries but quickly neutralized by Australia\u2019s defense. Committed costly handling errors, including a knock-on near his own tryline and an offside penalty that extended Australia\u2019s lead. Missed a key pass that led to an Australian try and was frequently swallowed up by defenders. Overall, a very poor performance with uncharacteristic mistakes throughout.<\/p>\n Rugby Pass 3\/10:<\/a> \u201cGiven the conditions, there was understandably not a lot of width put on the ball, which made Aki\u2019s hard carries all the more important, and he looked promising at first, but the Wallabies handled him comfortably as the match developed. Made a costly knock-on in front of his line, and was unceremoniously swarmed on and held up on a couple of occasions by the voracious Wallaby defence. An offside penalty allowed the Wallabies to extend their lead in the first half, and his handling deteriorated to the point where he could barely hold the ball in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n BALLS 4\/10: <\/a>\u201cSwallowed up and conceded a turnover on carry off a Lions lineout. Costly knock-on near his tryline. Was getting bounced back on some hard carries. Overran line and missed Kinghorn pass, leading to Jorgensen try. Another error, on 58 minutes. Offloaded out of play, but Lions had advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir must have been a fallout between Duhan and Andy Farrell. Him being not in the team again in rididuclus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh come on, when does the handbrake come off and we have a bit of fun? If I have to watch another snoozefest Freeman instead of a novelty Duhan Van Der Merwe hattrick.\u201d<\/p>\n