The sibling rivalry is escalating between the Van der Merwe brothers as they prepare to face off in their homeland on Saturday. 

Bulls prop Akker has been stoking the flames in a jovial fashion over their try-scoring records as he prepares welcomes Edinburgh winger Duhan to the Loftus Versfeld stadium in the URC showdown.

The South Africans will be determined to avenge their defeat to Scottish opposition in last year’s final on their home turf when Glasgow Warriors pulled off a shock win but brotherly bragging rights will also be up for grabs.

Akker is four years older than his younger siblings so their paths didn’t cross often as they progressed through the ranks in George - the second largest city in the Western Cape of South Africa - but they’ve locked horns in recent years. 

Their first encounter arrived around Christmas time in 2020 when Edinburgh secured an away win against Sale but Akker missed the Bulls’ trip to the capital last season, which the hosts won. 

Duhan, Scotland’s record try scorer, is renowned for crossing the white line in style but Akker surprisingly scored four times as many tries in the URC last season and he hasn't been shy in reminding his younger brother.

“I saw that,” Duhan joked on Akker’s comments. “It’s all maul tries - they don’t really count. They shouldn’t be counted - it’s an easy job. No, fair play to him. He’s not given me any stick for that. But I’m 2-0 up (this season) , so I’ll give him a real challenge this season and we’ll see who takes it.

“It’s always nice to come back and play in South Africa. I’m able to see my family which is very special, and obviously the chance to play against my brother. He didn't play against us last year in Edinburgh, so if selected it will be pretty cool to go up against him.  I played against him first in 2020 for Edinburgh against Sale and we won that one, so it was pretty cool.

"That was the first time I played against him. I’ve never played with him. I guess it’s pretty cool to come up against each other.  I don’t really run into his channel and he doesn't run into my channel. If I see him on the pitch, I might make a joke here or there, when he is tired. But other than that, if we get up against each other, we will see who wins that battle.”

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“My body feels unbelievable, to be honest,” Van der Merwe added. “I feel like I’m getting quicker, which is weird - I’m turning 30, so it shouldn’t be that way. I’m really working hard at my game in the gym and rehab, and my speed and all those kinds of bits. I’m not a young pup any more - I can’t just rock up and train like the other boys. I’m working really hard and hopefully I can have a good season.” 

Van der Merwe’s try-scoring tailed off last season as Edinburgh missed out on the play-offs but he’s determined to make amends and he made a positive start with two tries over Leinster last week.

“Sometimes it’s on myself,” he admitted of his downturn in form. “I can’t sit here and blame our attack or blame anything else. Sometimes the game is a bit clunky and I can’t find a way to get on the ball, so I have to be better, to get my hands more on the ball.

As I always say, it is my job to finish those opportunities off and I did that. But personally, I wouldn't say I am too happy with my game. I can be a lot better. That is on me, to find ways of getting on the ball more. I feel like if I can do that, I can get some gain line and line breaks, so there is more to come. It is very exciting.”

Van der Merwe isn’t expecting any special treatment on home soil but he’s under no illusions over the difficulty of facing one of the URC favourites in the Bulls.

On being targeted by South Africa, he said: “If they want to do that, then they can - I’ll be up for it. Every game I play I want to be at my best, it doesn’t matter if I’m playing in South Africa or Scotland or Italy or wherever. At the end of the day I have to be better than my opposite man. I guess if they want to come out and have a real go at me, then I’ll be up for the challenge

“It is a massive challenge. Personally I was blowing a bit in the altitude today, so I've got a bit of fear for Saturday. But we’ve still got a couple of training sessions and it is a massive opportunity, playing the bulls at Loftus. It is a big stadium, it will be special. They will have a lot of fans out and the boys are looking forward to the opportunity.”

The Bulls will still be hurting after Glasgow produced a stunning second half comeback to win the URC last season but Van der Merwe is unsure if that will impact Edinburgh. 

“Good question,” he replied when asked if the final defeat would provide the Bulls extra motivation. “I honestly don’t know the answer to that. They’re probably more keen to play against Glasgow than us. They lost against us last year.  

"They played in a semi-final two weeks ago and had a week. I wouldn’t say a week off but they didn’t play last weekend. That would be in the back of their heads as well. They’ll be hurting a bit from that, so I think they’ll come on Saturday with all guns blazing.”