"An awesome athlete" - Lions coaches excited to unleash returning Duhan van der Merwe against Argentina

That match marked the return of the United Rugby Championship following the close of the 2025 Six Nations, with van der Merwe subsequently missing out on Edinburgh's URC play-off pursuits. An ankle injury required surgery and a lengthy spell on the side-lines, yet the titanic wing will be off to the races as the Lions battle Los Pumas tonight in Dublin.

By all accounts, van der Merwe is back fit and firing for his return match, with Lions attack coach Richard Wigglesworth excited to see the powerhouse running back at his best in the Irish capital.

"I’m sure he’ll feel it [lack of game time] as some point in the game, but he’s been training for a while now, he's looked incredibly sharp, and is an awesome athlete up close. So we should expect us getting some ball through space and him doing some pretty special things with it."

There is plenty of focus upon the Lions' back-line for tonight's match, with the monstrous centre partnership of Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu turning quite a few heads across the hemispheres.

However, a partnership that has flown slightly under the radar sees both England talismans Marcus and Fin Smith named in the starting Lions XV, with Marcus bringing his flair to fullback whilst Fin is set to lead the line at 10.

An assistant coach within Steve Borthwick's coaching staff, Wigglesworth is enjoying the familiarity of seeing eleven England players named within the match day squad. Although despite the solid contention of English players in the Lions squad for this evening opening Test, Wigglesworth insists that the Lions are not following a playbook that was put together in RFU headquarters. Tonight's gameplan is strictly 'the Lions way'.

"They [Marcus & Fin Smith] get on really well off the field so there is that natural connection but we are looking for that connection on the field. They both know what they see and execute in space really well. It is not just two players connecting, it is the whole thing and it is the first test of that tomorrow.

"The challenge of a Lions tour is how quickly you can get cohesive and on the same page. We will find out tomorrow night. We will see loads of good stuff and stuff we can get better at."

"Any partnership you have it is a a bit of an intangibly because this is a whole new calling system, it is the Lions way of playing. So, cohesion will take time in the Lions environment but you know Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman have a great connection in terms of finding each other and knowing where each other are but that is in Northampton and England, this is the Lions. We want them to find a connection quickly in a Lions shirt."

"I think the Lion's way will find itself, to ultimately go and try and win a test series." Wigglesworth added. "Because you can have a 'oh, this is what we want it to look like'. But if it's all on the line in the third test and it's raining, it's going to look different.

"It's like the Lions way is us being the best prepared we can, as connected as possible, having all the bases covered, that this incredibly talented group can go and perform, whatever the circumstances, whatever the context of that game. Because we want to come out with a successful tour, both on and off the field."

Reinforcing the England spine of tonight's match day squad, is British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje. The England and Saracens skipper will lead out the men in red for the first time in his career, in what marks a momentous occasion for man appropriately nicknamed 'The Pearl.' Wigglesworth was asked how well Itoje is taking to his Lions leadership duties, with the attack coach more than impressed by his former Saracens teammate.

"As you expect, brilliantly. [He has] Stepped up too, very thoughtful about what he's going to say, very intuitive about what the group might need. So, he's done a great job so far, the real test is always tomorrow, when the heat is on, but he's done it now a fair few times, and come out with shining colours. So, fully expect the same again.

"But he's been brilliant, as expected. And not just him. He's had plenty of support, which is another strength of his, is that it doesn't all have to be him having the last word and him pushing, he's more than happy to to get help along the way."

Pivoting from the selected players to the coaching staff, and Wigglesworth shed a light upon Johnny Sexton's impact upon the side. The former Ireland and Leinster fly half has been working with Wigglesworth to put together the attacking game-plan, whilst helping the likes of Marcus Smith and Finn Russell fine tune their efforts from the boot.

Wigglesworth expressed how the Sexton that the Lions coaches are seeing upon the staff, is quite a good bit different from the player. Wigglesworth recalled how he and Sexton have already reminisced on previous meetings on the pitch, as they work towards building a new era of Lions attack from the sidelines.

"I've really enjoyed [working with] him, so very different than what he was on the field. I'm maybe similar, but without the extreme that Johnny was on the field and off it. We've had a good few debates about some match-ups we had, so no, we've had some good fun talking about it. Really enjoying working with him. Obviously, great knowledge, a good eye for what's going on, and just wants to help, like we all do."