Meyer must invest in Louw
18 Sep 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the past two Tests have shown why South Africa needs a loose forward all-rounder like Francois Louw in the starting mix.
What do Louw, Richie McCaw and David Pocock all have in common? The answer is: Not one thing, but many.
They may differ in terms of the level of competency across the various facets of forward play, but the common denominator is that all three men are not out-and-out specialists. They’re not limited to a ball-stealing or ball-slowing role at the breakdown.
Forget the tag of fetcher, it’s a label that’s far too simplified. A modern-day openside must possess the necessary size and skill to be a good lineout option, ball-carrier, and momentum-stalling defender. Above and beyond that, he should have the ability to manipulate the flow of the game through his exploits at the breakdown.
Louw meets Heyneke Meyer’s loose forward criteria in that he is a ‘momentum gatherer as well as a momentum-stopper’. Meyer spoke of these criteria during the England series, but where the Bok coach got it wrong was in his back-row selections for those three Tests and much of the Rugby Championship.
Between Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Jacques Potgieter and Pierre Spies, there was not one player capable of playing that fetcher’s role, and thus there was no balance in the Boks’ approach. The absence of such a specialised skill was later exposed in games against Argentina and Australia.
Having a player like Louw in the starting line-up gives the Boks more options. He has the ability to play to the ball, and also meets Meyer’s criteria of what’s required of a Test loose forward. This was clear in last week’s Test in Dunedin, where Louw carried and defended powerfully, but also added that X-factor element at the breakdown.
Louw has long been considered an excellent fetcher, his performance in the 2010 Super 14 leading to his first Test cap. As the laws have changed and the responsibilities of an openside have changed, Louw has been forced to improve his game in other aspects of forward play. Louw can offer more than an out-and-out breakdown specialist like Heinrich Brüssow as a ball-carrier, physical defender, and lineout option.
In short, he’s the kind of player you need if you hope to enjoy sustained success against the All Blacks and Wallabies.
It took a string of loose-forward injuries for Louw to receive this opportunity, as Meyer has been reluctant to field players who are competing in overseas competitions. However, it has become increasingly evident over the past two years that there is no South African openside based locally or abroad that is in the same hybrid category.
The All Blacks have McCaw and the Wallabies have Pocock. Coaches build game plans around these players. It is something for Meyer to consider as he reassesses his playing strategy ahead of the home leg of the Rugby Championship, and the end-of-year tour.
It was unfair to expect great Test performances from Louw in Perth and Dunedin considering the last time he was involved was at the 2011 World Cup. And yet, the 27-year-old delivered when he started against the All Blacks. With more time to settle, with Meyer’s backing and assurance that he is more than just a stop-gap measure, Louw could become an important and game-shaping member of the Bok side.
I’m not suggesting that Meyer should completely dispense with promising youngsters like Coetzee. The 21-year-old flanker has impressed as an individual this season but that Bok back row has lacked balance whenever he has started.
There may come a time when Coetzee is ready to play a hybrid role and when he has fully developed the skill-set to do so, but at this point Louw is the complete package and must be backed.
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331 Comments
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18 Sep 2012, 05:05 am
Disagree on Pocock. His all around skills not anywhere near those of McCaw, especially as a ball carrier.
18 Sep 2012, 05:37 am
Coetzee should be developed as an 8. He has all the heart, mongrel and skill to excel in this position in the future. He is also exceptionally strong for a 20yr old and will win most gain line battles especially in a few years time.
18 Sep 2012, 05:37 am
Meyer can’t do without Willem Alberts (& Frans & Bismarck). It is a paradox to say that Spies’ injury has actually solved a problem. Willem, Duane & Louw/Marcell can carry this team for 4+ years.
After seeing the game again, NZ are beatable. Not the same team without Thorn & Kaino
18 Sep 2012, 05:46 am
I’m way impressed young with Marcell. Talented, head screwed on straight, humble, strong, hard working
18 Sep 2012, 05:54 am
Duane is by far and away the best # 8 in South Africa.
18 Sep 2012, 06:20 am
Brussow is a match-winner. He should be in the side ahead of Louw.
Has won SR games for the Cheetahs pretty much single-handedly and his injury is a HUGE part of why we lost to Australia in the QF’s last year. Louw didn’t have nearly the same impact.
Longer we ignore Heinrich, the worse off we’ll be.
18 Sep 2012, 06:21 am
Agree with this article except for this sentence:
“Louw can offer more than an out-and-out breakdown specialist like Heinrich Brüssow as a ball-carrier, physical defender, and lineout option.”
Brussow
Louw
Kolisi
Coetzee
Burger
Alberts
Vermeulen
Kankowski
18 Sep 2012, 06:21 am
For a more balanced backrow, start with;
6. Flo
7. Marcell
8. Vermeulen
Utilise “Willem The Tank” in the last 25mins against tired legs.
18 Sep 2012, 06:38 am
Heineken you can thank your plank picks for the pathetic 43% win ratio you have.
Spies and Potgieter should never play for the Boks again. Give me Brussow and Burger ahead of these failures anytime.
And if you ever select that thug Greyling and his fat buddy Kruger you will be fired.
18 Sep 2012, 06:39 am
@Pot Blou Gevaar-8:
Marcell not a physical enough ‘in your face’ type flanker to be playing blindside IMO. Not at this stage anyway.
Ideally:
6 Heinrich Brussow
7 Schalk Burger
8 Duane Vermeulen
With Willem Alberts on the bench, and Marcell Coetzee thereabouts.
Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw & Arno Botha also 3 very capable players. Definitely have a lot of good depth in the loose-forwards.
And unfortunately CJ Stander has packed his bags for Ireland.
18 Sep 2012, 06:46 am
@hendrikp-10:
Agreed.
In terms of ball carrying ability, line-out options -do you go with Brussouw ahead of Louw. Quite scary that we’re talking about Heinrich almost as a non-entity. Brought about due to the new interpretations.
Certainly a lot waiting in the wings.. – Arno Botha maybe Duane’s understudy.
18 Sep 2012, 06:54 am
@hendrikp-10:
Agreed.
Also reckon
Brussow
Burger
Vermeulen
is the most balanced and effective loose trio moving forward
with any one of
Alberts
Coetzee
Kolisi
on the bench, depending on opposition, injuries and/or strategy.
I also think Kanko deserves to be invested in further at test level.
On form he is a fantastic option at 8.
I also anticipate Alberts being used more as a utility forward option ala Danie Rossouw.
The Sharks were extremely effective using Alberts at 4 and having a loose trio of Daniel, Coetzee and Kanko.
18 Sep 2012, 06:55 am
@hendrikp-10:
You’re a Cheetahs man, correct?
Any word on whether Juan Smith plans to return to rugby?
18 Sep 2012, 06:57 am
Louw’s good.
But Brussouw’s still the better player.
18 Sep 2012, 06:59 am
Div pointing out the elephant in the room?
Cape Town – Former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is upset with what he feels is too white a Springbok team currently playing in the Rugby Championship.
The Boks have failed to win their last three games in the competition, with a 21-11 loss to New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday leaving them in second-last position on the log.
But De Villiers feels it’s not only the team’s poor results on the field turning the fans against Heyneke Meyer’s charges, but also the racial composition of the side.
Speaking to Ballz Radio on Monday, De Villiers lashed out at the Bok management’s apparent lack of interest in selecting players of colour.
“It’s just the little things that bother me. We need to know in what country we do live. And at this moment we are turning a lot of black people against ourselves by making the team white and nobody will talk about these things but I just have to. And that is what… actually we’re breaking up our country again,” said De Villiers.
The former Bok mentor also questioned the fact that there’s no existent quota system in place anymore. He singled out a few players of colour which he feels should have been given more chances this season.
“We do have a lot of great (black) players who can make a difference. You have Gio Aplon – here in Cape Town – who can make a hell of a difference. You’ve got Juan de Jongh, an exciting player who can make a difference. We never played (Siya) Kolisi – who’s now injured, he was never given a chance.
“There are a lot of players like Chiliboy Ralepelle. He was the one guy who can make that 10% difference that you need from a replacement to come onto the field.
“We’re turning all the black support against the Springboks. Wherever I go I hear people talking negative about the Springboks,” said De Villiers.
Saturday’s Bok team against the All Blacks did feature three players of colour (Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana and Tendai Mtwarira) in the starting line-up, while De Jongh was among the substitutes.
De Villiers started his tenure as Bok coach in 2008 under a cloud of controversy, with SARU admitting the decision wasn’t made purely on rugby reasons, but rather political. Back then Meyer was the preferred candidate to succeed the World Cup winning coach Jake White.
18 Sep 2012, 06:59 am
@puff-13:
Nope Province. Though I have a soft spot for the Cheetahs.
Let’s be honest. Smith played his last test almost 2 years ago now. Even if he were to come back next year, he wouldn’t be the same player.
And I doubt he’ll return. At the moment he is a bad investment for any team and is unlikely to leave the Free State with his farming (?) commitments.
18 Sep 2012, 07:01 am
@puff-12:
No doubt Kanko is a talented player, but things have just never quite lined up for him. I’m not sure he’s got the grunt to play test rugby consistently.
It’s almost a case of ‘he had his chance’ for me.
18 Sep 2012, 07:05 am
louw needs to command his place in the team.
not rely on a coach ‘believing’ in him.
18 Sep 2012, 07:09 am
@hendrikp-16:
Same here.
Province supporter, but Cheetahs are my second team.
If Smith returns I wonder whether the Cheetahs will look to utilise him at number four lock.
They have plenty loosie options but little depth at lock.
And Smith is sure to have lost a bit of speed because of his achilles injury.
Maybe 50 min a game at 4 is what he will be looking at?
18 Sep 2012, 07:10 am
Brussow plays to the ball marginally better than FLO but as an all round loose forward FLO ticks more of the boxes and I’d have him in the team.
The role of the out and out “deck” player has diminished over the past couple of years and whilst their influence is still there, they are no longer the absolute match winners or “make or break” factors that they once were.
So still important to have one in the team, but one who does it all well, a-la Ritchie, or in this case, FLO.
18 Sep 2012, 07:14 am
Pick Brussouw… and the rest will be history
18 Sep 2012, 07:14 am
@stormersboy-20:
I don’t understand all this talk about Brussow being a one-trick pony.
He is and exceptional, world-class ball stealer.
But his talents don’t stop there.
He’s a strong defender, runs hard and has really good hands.
The man can turn a game on his own.
He would be one of the first names I put down on the team sheet.
18 Sep 2012, 07:15 am
@stormersboy-20:
Can’t agree. The laws haven’t changed drastically in what they are or aren’t allowed to do. If you get there early & stay on your feet you’re fine. Brussow does it brilliantly.
The guy makes big plays at important periods of a game.
Last year in Durban we lost to Australia, for one reason only. Brussow was taken off after 50 mins.
18 Sep 2012, 07:16 am
Bismark
Brussow
Burger
Du Preez
Goosen
Frans Steyn
Jacques Fourie
JP Pieterson
These would be the first names to go on my Springbok team sheet.
If fit, I would always play them.
18 Sep 2012, 07:18 am
Brilliant player F Louw……should have been kept in CT and made Stormers captain…..
IMO though, Brussow is truly unique……
I am just so pleased the debate now seems to be which of these 2 wonderful Pitbulls to start…..that , in itself , is heartening for me….
18 Sep 2012, 07:18 am
@hendrikp-23:
Spot on. These guys saying the laws have ‘changed too much’ are simply jumping on the Meyer ‘size’ bandwagon.
Brussow should be one of the Bok’s core players (like Matfield and co were). You choose players to suit his game, that’s how good he is.
Kanko, Alberts and Brussow would be my dream trio (with Coetzee covering for all 3).
18 Sep 2012, 07:19 am
@puff-22:
Same.
I agree he’s an average ball-carrier. He tends to focus on being a support runner and clearing out rather then taking it to the line… but that’s understandable considering he’s not incredibly strong through the middle.
He’s definitely not a poor ball carrier though. And he’s excellent defender & links well with others with ball in hand.
Meyer justifies his exclusion by saying he gives away too many penalties (which isn’t true by the way), yet he includes Flip van der Merwe & Dean Greyling!!
For me, I feel like bashing my head against the wall every time I see people ignoring the guy.
18 Sep 2012, 07:19 am
Re the PDivvy comments:
Mtawarira
Steenkamp
Ralepelle
Kolisi
Habana
Basson
De Jongh
Aplon
All deserving of places in a 30-man Bok squad.
I feel Mvovo needs to work on some aspects of his game and I’d rather pick Willie Le Roux over him at this point as he offers more utility value.
18 Sep 2012, 07:22 am
@hendrikp-17:
Mmm, Kanko has NEVER had a real shot at test level. Britney was always blocking him.
Kanko of 2012 is a bigger, faster version of Keegan Daniels. And that’s a good thing.
18 Sep 2012, 07:24 am
Off topic, I’m very excited to see how Coetzee (Lions 15) goes next year (assuming he leaves the Lions).
Classy player.
18 Sep 2012, 07:26 am
@puff-28:
Aplon should be in the Bok starting lineup (or at the very least on the bench getting 30 min).
18 Sep 2012, 07:27 am
@puff-24:
True I’d put Etzebeth in there as well. Gurthro Steenkamp as well if he’s fit and performing nearly as well as he was the past few seasons.
Biggest worries for me is:
- Depth at tighthead. We need Cilliers & Malherbe to step up, and hopefully have Coenie Oosthuizen playing tighthead for the Cheetahs with Caylib Oosthuizen on the loosehead or else converting Rossouw de Klerk if he is the other starting prop.
- Finding a lock to play alongside Etzebeth. Both Bekker & Kruger have been average at best. Flip van der Merwe also had a rare decent game. Will be nice to see whether Pieter Steph du Toit can be as good in the air as he is around the pitch.
- Sorting out whether we can rely on Fourie du Preez to come back and control our game from the 9 jersey.
- Finding a capable back-3 that can make things happen. Habana & Pietersen are doing a good job, but we need an attacking fullback drastically.
18 Sep 2012, 07:32 am
daniel, kankowski, mvovo are the type of players never really good enough even when they’re at the top of their game. so the path to bok glory for them is a simple case of needing to move the world, put no foot wrong and be seen to want to die for jersey.
if they cannot do this in each and every of the games they get if fate so decrees, then they fade into obscurity and nowhereness.
18 Sep 2012, 07:34 am
@hendrikp-32:
I honestly believe Bekker is the man to play 5, he just needs to be managed properly (he gets hurt before every test season, and then looks average when he limps on).
Aplon should be our 15 for now. Coetzee and Taute are waiting in the wings.
18 Sep 2012, 07:35 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-18:
Like Meyer believes in Morne?
18 Sep 2012, 07:35 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-33:
Tend to agree on Daniels and Mvovo. But Kanko is class, and the best 8 in SA.
18 Sep 2012, 07:43 am
@wpstormerbok-35:
its different.
morne in the start to his bok career won a trin nations title and b/i lions series. because of his past ability with the bulls and boks the coach naturally believes in him and hoped he would rediscover that form.
that he failed ws not lost on the coach who admitted he may have failed by sticking with him.
flo on the other hand has never had a commanding stop the presses game for the boks. he was mediocre in every test he’s played so far, this was his best game imo.
18 Sep 2012, 07:51 am
Players/franchise/age
1-beast mtawarira(sharks)-27
2-chillyboy ralepelle(bulls)-26
3-coenie oosthuizen(cheetahs)-23
4-eben etzebeth(stormers)-20
5-juandre kruger(bulls)-26
6-francois louw/heinrich brussow(bath and cheetahs)-27 and 26
7-willem alberts(sharks)-28
8-duane vermeulen(stormers)-26
9-francois hougaard(bulls)-24
10-johan goosen(cheetahs)-20
11-bjorn basson(bulls)-25
12-frans steyn(sharks)-25
13-juan de jong(stormers)-24
14-bryan habana(stormers)-28
15-pat lambie(sharks)-22
16-adrian strauss(cheetahs)-26
17-pat cilliers(lions)-25
18-flip vd merwe(bulls)-27
19-marcell coetzee(sharks)-21
20-jano vermaak(bulls)-27
21-lionel mapoe(lions)-23
22-jaco taute(lions)-21
I believe must give this 22 a crack at the foes?
18 Sep 2012, 07:52 am
Louw was keeping his nose clean, McCaw had a field day at the break down with the two choir boys Louw and Vermuelen not raising a finger except some friendly clean ups
Other than that Flouw played well, a close call between him and Brussow.
18 Sep 2012, 08:00 am
@hendrikp-32:
Agree on all points.
I think a back three of Habana, Pieterson and Willie Le Roux would be unbelievable.
But I’ll be happy with Habana, Pieterson and Taute too.
Not sure where this leaves Lambie.
Is he a better option than Le Roux or Taute at 15 for the Boks?
If so, he’ll need game time to prove it.
Otherwise, I reckon he’ll have to make do with a bench role at best because he ain’t gonna be preferred to Goosen at 10.
18 Sep 2012, 08:12 am
Louw is a good solid toiler at openside and does his job well. Is he a superstar? No, but he’s probably the best all round no.7 you guys have. I rate Broussow as well but havent seen him play in ages due to injuries.
18 Sep 2012, 08:13 am
Brussouw any day of the week!!!!
Play 6. Brussow 7. Alberts 8. Vermeulen with Flouw on the Bench.
When Burger is fit again. 6. Brussouw 7. Burger 8. Vermeulen with Alberts and Flouw on the bench.
18 Sep 2012, 08:16 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-37:
Morne’s cracks began to appear in 2011, and were gaping in 2012. A drop in form is 4-8 games. Morne has been kak now for almost 18 months.
I wonder if it has something to do with him having a kid. I know from experience, it changes your mindset on everything around you (have a child), maybe it messed with Morne’s mojo?
Meyer let his personal views cloud his judgement.
18 Sep 2012, 08:21 am
No 8 in the country is better than Kanko at the lineout… He practically ran the Sharks lineout and was the goto jumper for the last 5 games in S15.
Only Spies can match him for pace…
And Kanko is probably only second to Daniel in terms of offloads and his classic 8 positioning, sweeping is second to none.
This year he has added a hard edge especially on defence that was never there in years before.
Actually on all attributes Kanko is the best proper 8 in SA by a healthy margin. I look forward to next years S15 for him to prove this.
Meanwhile the Boks can content themselves with 8s who play like blindsiders because the current 8s in the Bok setup are nothing but blindsiders.
18 Sep 2012, 08:22 am
@puff-40:
Yep, Lambie should be Goosen’s backup. He’s not a 15, he’s a 10. He won’t mind sitting on the bench for the Boks as long as he knows his role. It’s pissing him off now, because he knows he’s better than Zane.
Goosen and Lambie should cover us for the next 5-8 years (Goosen will pick up injuries).
Lambie will get a full season at 10 for the Sharks, and will remind us why he’s one of the best 10′s around.
18 Sep 2012, 08:23 am
@Heavens Game-44:
Great post.
18 Sep 2012, 08:24 am
@puff-22: I never said he was. Flo does the general stuff (carrying, lineouts etc) better than Heinrich.
Thats why I’d pick him ahead of HB at the moment.
If FLO wasn’t available or out of form then I’d go to HB in a heartbeat.
The fact is that they are both good and either must be in the side IMO
18 Sep 2012, 08:25 am
@Heavens Game-44: I won’t argue with you there, and I would have had him before Pierre in a heartbeat.
As to who is better between Vermeulen and Kanko, it’s hard to compare because they play so differently.
18 Sep 2012, 08:29 am
@londonshark-45: you sicken me varkie – wishing injury on the Goose.
18 Sep 2012, 08:29 am
@hendrikp-23: The daylight law changed things forever for the specialist fetchers. Heinrich made such an impact in the days where he was able to make the tackle and compete straight away and force the turnover or penalty.
He’s still effective of course, and so is FLO, who plays the whole exaggerated daylight move really well.
The big difference between now and then is that the counter rucking component of ruck play has taken more prominence than it did before.
I’m not disputing that HB is good or valuable to a team, but as i said above, on an all-round basis FLO gets my nod.
I didn’t always feel that way, but that’s my current view.
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