Kobe (Japan) (AFP)

He could have worn the green and gold jersey but it is under the colors of Canada that DTH van der Merwe will sweat under the roof of Kobe Misaki Stadium on Tuesday (12:15 French, 10:15 GMT), for a match "special" against the Springboks.

At 33 years and 60 caps, the versatile winger is not really a blue. Daniel Tailliferre Hauman van der Merwe, his full name, is indeed playing in Japan his fourth World Cup with the Canucks, which he will also become the most cape player in the competition.

But it is neither for his fifteenth match in a World Cup nor for his blond dye that "DTH VDM" is noticeable. No, he will face Tuesday, for the first time in his career, South Africa, the country where he was born.

"It will be something special, my whole career, I dreamed of playing against South Africa, there in a World Cup, my last, it will be really special." I played against them at seven ( in Dubai in 2007, ed) but there, I can not wait, "said Van der Merwe, who left the rainbow country for Canada at 17.

Left in the luggage of his father, doctor, he returns from time to time in his country of birth, the last time in February, "with wife and children, to go see my grandmother".

And if he discovered rugby in South Africa - "it's part of our culture" - it's in Canada that he made his name. He was even captain of the Canucks five times, before joining Great Britain, between Scotland (Ayr, Glasgow Warriors), Wales (Scarlets) and England (Newcastle Falcons).

- A jersey and a beer -

"But this is not my story, it's my team's, and we have to do well," said the winger, who currently plays at Glasgow Warriors.

For now, the World Cup in Japan has not really smiled in Canada. Largely dominated by Italy (48-7) before being crushed by New Zealand (63-0), the North Americans chained against the Springboks their second match in a week. Before ending in Namibia on Sunday.

But Van der Merwe is focused on the next match, against his country of birth.

"I think that when I'm singing the anthems, my emotions will get mixed up ... I'm proud to be a Canadian, but I'm still proud to be a South African too," he said after the shambles. All Blacks.

A few days later, he was more hesitant. "It's hard to tell you how I'm going to feel, ask me the question after the match," he explained.

At the end of the match, van der Merwe admitted that he still hoped to be able to swap his jersey with a Springbok and then share a beer with his compatriots.

"My friends and family are going to watch the game, of course, my parents are coming to Japan, my brother too, so it will be really special," said the Stormers fan, the Cape Super Rugby franchise.

Especially special if, if ever he scored against the Boks, Van der Merwe would become the fifth player to register at least one try in four Worlds. He would join a closed club that included Samoan Brian Lima, Irishman Brian O'Driscoll, Welshman Gareth Thomas and Australian Adam Ashley-Cooper.

© 2019 AFP