Flo’s fantastic opportunity
3 Sep 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the under-utilised and often unappreciated phenom that is Francois Louw will have a chance to prove a point in the coming weeks.
Two weeks ago, I sat face to face with South African rugby’s forgotten man. Francois Louw was in a typically laid back mood on a bright morning in Bath, and we chatted about everything from rare Nicaraguan coffee to David Pocock’s fetching technique.
The flanker talked at length about a rugby-mad town that would be demanding more of Bath in the 2012-13 season. He spoke about being a leader, about playing the best rugby of his life, and how he planned to change the collective mindset of the Springbok selectors.
‘If you play well enough, they can’t ignore you,’ he said at the time. ‘I want to play so well that they will have to say, “We can’t ignore this guy, we need him, we want him to come back”. If I ever got the call, I would pack that bag pretty quickly. That would be fantastic.’
They were hopeful words, but there was substance in Louw’s assertion that he was in the form of his life.
I subsequently bumped into Gary Gold, former Springbok forward coach and now Bath’s director of rugby, and he grew exceedingly animated in stating a case for Louw as a Bok starter. And as Gold said at the time, Louw wouldn’t be lacking for match sharpness if Heyneke Meyer revised his foreign policy and began a phone call with ‘+44′.
I decided to check things out for myself. Bath had enjoyed an unbeaten run in the pre-season, and their final warm-up fixture against the Cardiff Blues at The Rec promised to be entertaining. There was always going to be value in gauging Louw’s form in such a contest, as he would be competing against one of the premier openside flankers on the planet, namely Wales’ Sam Warburton.
It was a wet night in Bath and it didn’t surprise me to see the halfback pairing of Michael Claassens and Olly Barkley kicking for territory. What did surprise me was the brutal efficiency of Bath’s pack, and the manner in which Louw flourished as a result.
Warburton on the other hand, was a non-factor. Louw outplayed the Welsh openside for steals on the floor, and contributed powerfully around the park. When he eventually left the field the soaked but never silenced Bath faithful stomped on the wooden floorboards to show their appreciation.
It was meant to be a performance that would build confidence ahead of an important Premiership campaign. It was mission accomplished as far as the pre-season was concerned, although Louw would have felt that his mission to convince Meyer of his value was just about to begin.
At the start of his tenure, Meyer stated that he would not pick overseas-based players unless they were better than those based in South Africa. It was easy to ignore Louw at that stage, as Meyer was still hopeful of Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen recovering from their respective injuries. There were also youngsters like Marcell Coetzee and Siya Kolisi to consider, not to mention Heinrich Brüssow and Keegan Daniel.
Injuries have thwarted Meyers plans, and he has been forced to recall Louw. It would be false to say that the Bath openside has convinced Meyer of his value through a strong performance in the English pre-season. It would be more accurate to say that Meyer selected Louw for lack of another experienced openside option.
However, that doesn’t suggest that Louw cannot change Meyer’s mind with an influential showing in what remains of the Rugby Championship.
A year ago, he left for Bath knowing that he had jeopardised his position at the Springboks. Two weeks ago, he spoke as if Bath were his primary focus and as if he wasn’t expecting a Test recall.
But the 27 year old has always believed that he would wear the Bok jersey again. He was adamant that the Boks’ World Cup quarter-final loss to Australia would not be his final international act.
‘I do still think about that game, but to be honest with you, I’ve never watched it again,’ Louw said.
‘It felt like we were doing everything right but we weren’t getting paid dividends for it. We weren’t getting points on the board. It was very disappointing.
‘Having said that, it’s always going to go down as one of the greatest times in my life. To be involved with the Springboks at a World Cup, even with a disappointing exit like that, was amazing. Was that the last Test for me? I hope not. I’m 27 years old, and I don’t feel like I’ve reached a watershed. I believe that I’m playing the best rugby of my career.
‘I definitely don’t want to see that as my last go at it all. Like I’ve said to you, I want to keep improving, I want to reach a level where they can’t ignore me, where they want me to come back. No, I refuse to see that as my last act. I’m going to try and get back into the side. That’s not really in my hands, what is in my hands is playing the best rugby that I can.’
Nobody could have predicted the season-ending injury to Kolisi that would eventually force Meyer to contact Louw. That bag was packed very quickly, and as you read this, Louw should be preparing to play against Australia in Perth this Saturday.
Louw outplayed Warburton on that soggy night in Bath, and he should be expected to give the Boks an edge in what many will view as a World Cup rematch. The significant difference on this occasion is that Pocock, who is out for the rest of the Rugby Championship with an injury, won’t be playing.
Louw would have expected to watch this match on TV, but now he will be in the thick of it. It was interesting to get his take on the Pocock injury prior to his own Test recall.
‘Besides the breakdown, Pocock has a helluva work rate. It will be a substantial loss for Australia. I think that is something that New Zealand have already capitalised on a little bit.
‘He did very well against us in that World Cup quarter-final. His absence is something that South Africa should look to exploit [in Perth]. They have to be efficient in that area, but I’m sure whoever they put in there is going to be hungry to prove themselves.’
As fate would have it, Louw now has the chance to put these words into action.
Follow JC on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
202 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All
3 Sep 2012, 09:41 am
@gunther-49:
i considered saying this but thought nah let the girlymen get their louw fascination out of their systems first.
very average to say the least.
a poor unions heinrich brussow.
3 Sep 2012, 09:52 am
@Jeez-38: I hope you right about the fetchers starting
3 Sep 2012, 10:02 am
According to Pieter Jordaan from Beeld, the hearing will start again next Monday and Mitchell’s agency has finally shed some light on the charges that he will face, while insisting that all charges will be fought and that the coach is determined to part ways with the Lions with his name cleared.
The charges appear to allege that Mitchell, inter alia:
- used derogatory language towards players
- placed undue pressure on injured players to train and to play
and
- breached the terms of his contract by making unauthorised public statements
3 Sep 2012, 10:05 am
South Africa
Perth clash a matter of pride
Mon, 03 Sep 2012 05:49
PrevNextIn the end, it could come down to who wants it more
Pride will supersede championship points when the Springboks and the Wallabies lock horns in Perth on Saturday.
How the mighty have fallen. Twelve short months ago, these two teams were on top of the world. The Springboks were world champions, the Wallabies, Tri-Nations champions.
Fast forward to today and you’ll find these sides a shell of their former selves. Although they remain the second and third-ranked teams in Rugby Union, the gab between them and the all-conquering All Blacks have widened significantly.
Their fall from grace has been as spectacular as it’s been sudden. 2012 was always going to be a difficult year for the Springboks. This was anticipated, with several legends calling time on their international careers and a new coach with a fresh philosophy taking over the reins.
It’s clear that the majority of the players, as well as Heyneke Meyer himself, are still finding their feet at international level. Excelling at provincial level is all well and good, but the step up to Test match rugby is a demanding one that has exposed many a top prospects – players and coaches alike.
Meyer has predictably stuck to the formula that won him four Currie Cup and a Super Rugby title. In theory, his forwards-based, low-risk approach plays to the strengths of big, muscular South African players.
Why it hasn’t brought similar success at this early stage of the Meyer era is two-fold. Firstly, the game and skill level of players has evolved considerably since Meyer’s glory days at the Bulls between 2002 and 2007, and secondly, his selection hasn’t been sound.
Where teams struggled to negotiate the pin-point kicking game of the Boks and Bulls in the past, they’ve largely negated the tactic by putting an emphasis on improving the high ball skills of their back three.
The loss of Fourie du Preez’s irreplaceable precision and Meyer’s insistence of asking Francois Hougaard to impersonate the great scrumhalf is self-defeating in that it merely results in kicking away possession.
Meyer has seemingly relaxed his stance on the need of a specialist openside flanker with his selection of Francois Louw, but anything other than a starting role for the Bath-based scavenger would expose his call-up as farcical.
Again, teething problems were expected for the Boks in what’s a rebuilding year for them. The Wallabies’ demise, however, has come as a bit of a shock. Theirs is not due to circumstances but rather affliction as the traditionally attack-minded players are not buying into Robbie Deans’ game plan. It’s a recipe for disaster and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
These two rugby giants thus find themselves in a dark and desperate place, and both will view Saturday’s showdown at Paterson’s Stadium as an opportunity to regain some lost pride.
This, rather than the championship points on offer, will be their main objective as the All Blacks have already all but sewn up the Rugby Championship title.
What transpired in the opening rounds of the four-nation tournament has left both the Boks and Wallabies physically fragile and emotionally vulnerable, but the Australians will have some hope to cling on to.
Not only will they enjoy the benefit of home ground advantage, their confidence will be boosted by the knowledge that they’ve won the last four encounters and lost just one of the last seven Tests against the men in green and gold.
Revenge for their quarterfinal defeat in last year’s World Cup will serve as an added incentive for the Boks. The fact remains, however, that they’re a young, inexperienced side peppered with youngsters on their first Australasian tour with the Boks.
In that sense, it’s advantage Australia – but beware the wounded Springbok. In the end, it could come down to who wants it more.
By Quintin van Jaarsveld
3 Sep 2012, 10:06 am
@Transformation-53:
no mention of the elephant in the room, of course.
3 Sep 2012, 10:07 am
@Gumboots-42: Bekker was very poor in Mendoza bud. Have to try Kruger again.
3 Sep 2012, 10:15 am
@grant10-54:
honeslty grant, the writing style of some of these sports reporters/journalists is ridiculous at times. i was half expecting an alien mother ship to flatten new york three quarters of the way into that story.
very hollywood, and even a touch bollywood.
3 Sep 2012, 10:19 am
i_love_u_bakkiesbotha #57 – Not too sure if i don’t agree with the article.
Both teams are struggling at the moment. The Ozzies have the players to cut loose and run us ragged, if they are up for it, where as the Boks don’t have a clue of how to run the ball this year.
We are regressing rapidly under HM. The Boks are even playing the situation anymore they are sticking to his rediculous kicking game come hell or high water!!
3 Sep 2012, 10:21 am
@race of tan-58:
“These two rugby giants thus find themselves in a dark and desperate place, and both will view Saturday’s showdown at Paterson’s Stadium as an opportunity to regain some lost pride.
This, rather than the championship points on offer, will be their main objective as the All Blacks have already all but sewn up the Rugby Championship title.
What transpired in the opening rounds of the four-nation tournament has left both the Boks and Wallabies physically fragile and emotionally vulnerable, but the Australians will have some hope to cling on to.”
seriously… seriously..?..
3 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
@grant10-54:
Dont the Ozzies have the most injuries out all the teams?
3 Sep 2012, 10:24 am
@race of tan-58:
the springboks are anything but in a dark and desperate place in need of regaining some lost pride.
they’re five games into a new coaching regime with a raft of new recruits to boot. although i expect meyer and the players sincerely wish the boks to win every test i would hazzard thay are taking a long view on the boks development.
3 Sep 2012, 10:26 am
I said sometime last week or two weeks ago that I am surprised Heyneke did not have a look at Louw. The following players played in the nr 7 jersey for the Bulls from 2002 to 2007. Johan Wasserman, Piet Krause, Tim Dlulane and then Wikus van Heerden. They are all players who could fetch, but they were also good ball carriers and some even good lineout options (Wikus played lock for Lions this year). Francois Louw is the closest player we have with the same skill set than the Wikus van Heerden of 2007, who was the best fetcher of the 2007 World Cup and one of my players of the season that year.
3 Sep 2012, 10:26 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-61:
How many new players are in the bok team?
3 Sep 2012, 10:28 am
@Hurricane-63:
i think you mean how many new positions and combinations, rather than new players, right?
3 Sep 2012, 10:29 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-61: face it bakkies, if it wasnt for a white rhino sized frans getting his massive bulky biltong munching, boerwors belching frame in front of the Argie kicker, you would have come away with the correct result from Mendoza..
SA rugby is K.. you know the rest
3 Sep 2012, 10:30 am
new front row combo
new lock partnership
completely new loose trio combo
new midfield combo
new right winger selction
new fullback selection
completely new bench selections
3 Sep 2012, 10:31 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-61: vier jaar plan
3 Sep 2012, 10:32 am
@Hurricane-63:
how many caps does the current bok squad have compared to oz and nz?
how many caps will the bok team to play oz on saturday have compared to oz?
3 Sep 2012, 10:34 am
@Hurricane-63: I think if we play the All Blacks with the same team than against Argentina, the number of starting tests against the All Blacks for the entire starting lineup may be less than the number of tests Victor Matfield started against the All Blacks. I do not know where to get the specific stats, but I will not be surprised.
3 Sep 2012, 10:37 am
While it’s great that Meyer realizes we need a specialist fetcher, Francois Louw has never played in a Bok team that has beaten either the Aussies or the Kiwis. In fact, after a promising start against lesser opposition, he was dropped on the basis of his performances against the top two. He has played the Aussies once and lost, and lost three times against the Kiwis. That doesn’t bode well.
3 Sep 2012, 10:39 am
@poppa69-65:
oh please, if the ref had blown the game correctly the argies would have gone home empty.
kool..?
kif…?
3 Sep 2012, 10:41 am
@kaksioek-70: I think the fact that he was dropped was pathetic. Correct me if I am wrong, but he was replaced by Kankowski as an opensider for an Aussie test in Australia. Shows you the caliber of our coach at that stage.
3 Sep 2012, 10:41 am
@Transformation-67:
no excuses transie, a win is expected for every game in the rebuilding phase
but some perspective is needed too.
3 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-71: Ja the less we say about the NZ born Australian alcoholic the better. If Homer Simpson portrays the average American then surely Steve Walsh portrays the average Australasian. Drunk, incompetent and arrogant.
3 Sep 2012, 10:44 am
@Horings-72: That sounds about right, yes. But I do remember that Louw was nowhere against the Aussies and Kiwis and probably deserved to be dropped. Of course he should have been replaced by another fetcher, but that’s a different story.
3 Sep 2012, 10:46 am
@kaksioek-75: He was not good enough against the All Blacks in NZ. If I am not mistaken he did not play against Aus, only the two tests in NZ and they absolutely ran over us, but I do think he took the blame for many poor performances.
3 Sep 2012, 10:51 am
@Horings-76: He played in the team that lost to the Aussies during the RWC last year – but, to be fair, I think that had more to do with Bryce than it had to do with him.
3 Sep 2012, 10:52 am
@Horings-74:
exactly, funny how the breakdown is always a shambles when these dimwits are in control (meaning no control). the only question is whether its stupidity or willfully intentional.
3 Sep 2012, 10:52 am
The boks are going to crush the Aussies! 4 Tries at least!
3 Sep 2012, 10:54 am
@kaksioek-70:
As opposed to?
3 Sep 2012, 10:55 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-66:
ABs have 9 players that didnt play in the final of the RWC, that played against OZ the other week.
Thing is that the Boks always seems to hide behind the new player/ new year excuse.
But they seem to forget all teams go through this most of the time, especially after a RWC.
3 Sep 2012, 10:55 am
@David-80: I know we have few other options … just trying to temper expectations.
3 Sep 2012, 10:56 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-71:
Hang on so the ref was to blame for the draw against the Pumas?
3 Sep 2012, 10:57 am
@Transformation-53: This is all they have against Mitchell? What a fuckingjoke.
Dear WPRFU,
Do not buy one of these Lions lollipops. They are obviously petulant littlefuckers with uberkak attitudes. Let them suck on the teet of the Vodacom Cup.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch.
Don’t want ‘em – not even at bargain prices.
Dankie.
3 Sep 2012, 10:57 am
@Hurricane-83: If that’s his view it isn’t shared by most of us. The Pumas deserved to win.
3 Sep 2012, 10:58 am
The following has surely been copied on keo over the weekend, but it is so good I am doing it again. The only critism I have for Meyer is if the core of the gameplan is based on decision making then Fourie du Preez is being replaced by the wrong man.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has come out in defence of the criticism of the way the national team are playing at the moment, reiterating that he believes the team are on the right track.
Meyer said it was necessary to explain as there was a perception he was playing a “Bulls game plan” but that was nonsense.
Instead the Bok mentor explained that currently players were struggling with “reading the situation” but that he “knows we are on the right track”.
Meyer said shortly before his side’s departure to Perth ahead of next Saturday’s Castle Rugby Championship showdown with Australia that there was misunderstanding of the game plan that the Boks are currently employing.
“There is a total and philosophical misunderstanding about game plans. I’ve studied every single game plan from every single team in the world, and 80 per cent of the gameplans are the same. If you look at most game plans, the most tries come from broken field or turnovers. You need to create that,” Meyer explained.
“Secondly, it’s not about the game plan, it’s about reading the situation. Obviously if the defence is up tight, you have to play wider and if the defence is wide, you have to take it up the middle. That’s not the game plan, that’s reading the situation. You need to teach the players how to read these situations. That’s why I always say Australia and New Zealand are a long way ahead of us because they teach these things from day one. They can create space.
Meyer also turned his attention to the criticism about South Africa’s kicking game, even though stats showed that in the 16-all draw in Mendoza, Argentina kicked more than the Boks and the main target for all the criticism — flyhalf Morne Steyn — kicked only nine times — or 27 per cent of the ball he received.
“Then about the kicking game. The Stormers were top of the log and they kicked the most in the Super Rugby competition. The All Blacks kicked a lot on their way to win the World Cup. Its not about kicking or not kicking. If you get quick ball and are on the front foot, obviously you never kick that, you attack the space out wide,” Meyer said.
“People always ask if there is a plan B. It is not about a plan B,C, D or E, most teams use the same game plan, they just read the situations better. The difference is that New Zealand have a Sonny Bill who breaks the line, and players who do little offloads among the forwards. But that takes time, we’re still trying to get the lineouts right.
RIGHT GAME PLAN
“The same game plan scored three tries against Argentina and should have scored probably another three in Cape Town. It was the same game plan. In Mendoza, the players felt the pressure of playing away, suddenly they were behind and didn’t get quick ball up front. In those situations the only question is — can you handle the pressure?
“It’s always the team that handles the pressure the best. We’re not good at the moment at reading the situation. We aren’t good at finishing our chances at the moment and our defence will be tested this coming week.”
With this in mind, the Bok coach said there was nothing wrong with the current Bok game plan and it would return results if the Boks could implement it properly.
“I believe we have the right game plan, that’s the game plan that won World Cups and Super Rugby. That’s the game plan that New Zealand won the World Cup with as well. Some teams are more forward orientated, and some — like Australia — are more backs orientated. A team like New Zealand have both forwards and backs that they can mix it up.
“Obviously we change from week to week and you target your attack accordingly, but these are small tweaks. You attack the weak shoulders, and attack the weak defenders. If they have a weak point out wide, or under the high ball, you attack that. That is where we need to improve in reading these situations.
“Argentina kicked 10-15 times more than us, but everybody praised them. I know there are a lot of perceptions out there, but I know we’re on the right track. I’ve been criticised like this before at Currie Cup and Super Rugby level and we’ve won titles. This is not the Bulls game plan, we’re on the right track.”
Meyer has been fighting his critics since his appointment, but the draw in Mendoza has turned up the volume of criticism, with former Bok coaches Nick Mallett and Jake White publicly criticising the way the Boks are playing.
Still, unless the Boks show a good improvement in Perth, the Bok coach may find himself under severe pressure just six games into his tenure with an expectant public that are impatient for results.
3 Sep 2012, 10:58 am
@Hurricane-83: In any case, I think they will beat the Aussies in Argentina – too much beef.
3 Sep 2012, 10:59 am
@Horings-74:
And Pieter van Zyl portrays all South Africans??
You sure you know what you are saying here
3 Sep 2012, 11:01 am
@kaksioek-77: Ja I forgot about that one. I try to forget certain games. That QF is one of them and I am also trying to get this past weekend’s WP Bulls game out of my memory.
3 Sep 2012, 11:01 am
@kaksioek-87:
Yeah, those forwards are a handful.
Argentina gave us another scare here last year. Lucky Piri had his kicking boots on that day, would have been alot closer.
These guys are a good team. If not this year, the next couple of years the Pumas will beat the ABs and the Boks.
3 Sep 2012, 11:04 am
@Hurricane-88: I will rather be portrayed by Piet van Zyl, but he is not corrupt enough if you want to take the average South African. I think Jacob Zuma is closer. Corrupt and uneducated.
3 Sep 2012, 11:07 am
@Horings-72: wrong, Flo played blindside that year and kanko replaced him at blindside, schalk played 6.
3 Sep 2012, 11:11 am
@Horings-86:
Thanks,I havent read it. After reading this, I do believe everybody should chill out a bit, perhaps HM deserves some time. Its sounds like he knows what he is doing. And after a few injured players come back everybody will probably be happy with most of the the players in the team and the selections…
3 Sep 2012, 11:12 am
@Transformation-92: Firstly, to play Burger openside and Louw blindside was the wrong move then. Secondly to replace Louw with Kankowski and have both Spies and Kankowski in the same lineup was ridiculous. Spies, Kankowski and Burger is probably the worst combination ever picked by a Sprinbok coach. Alberts, Potgieter and Coetzee comes close, but they have a better workrate that the first one mentioned.
3 Sep 2012, 11:15 am
@Jeez-93: I think the Keo “journalists” ignored an article that actually made sense. You would see the number of opinions from the journalist vs the number you would see in a keo article.
3 Sep 2012, 11:16 am
@Horings-91:
3 Sep 2012, 11:16 am
In short, Louw is a good hybrid player – but not really an out-and-out fetcher. Then again, you could say the same thing about McCaw – but he is in a class above Louw.
3 Sep 2012, 11:23 am
@kaksioek-97: McCaw is in a league of his own, but I do think Louw is in the same league as a Phil Waugh and he manned up a few times against the likes of McCaw. I believe the Boks have a better blindside in Alberts at this stage. That is probably the only position where the Boks is marginally better. And obviously fullback. Kirchner gaan een van hierdie dae verby ‘n ou step.
3 Sep 2012, 11:25 am
@Hurricane-81:
that nz team still has about 160 more caps that the bok teams got.
3 Sep 2012, 11:32 am
@Horings-98: “And obviously fullback. Kirchner gaan een van hierdie dae verby ‘n ou step.”
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.