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, 09:24 am
@Heavens Game-96: For my money Taute is the next bok 15, if he stays healthy he could be the next Jouba. I want him at the sharks but he must play 15 and not wing. I would rather he goes to another province than play wing for the sharks.
18 Sep 2012, 09:25 am
@Transformation-89: What’ your point transie?? You said he’d been caught for roids. I corrected you. A simple thanks will do.
18 Sep 2012, 09:28 am
@Skeppie-85: If they do and they can compete, then SA Rugby will undoubtedly be the better for it.
I for one am not holding my breath.
18 Sep 2012, 09:28 am
Skeppie
I am a huge Juan Smith fan, always have been. I would hate for him to come back not the same player and lessen his legacy.
he deserves to be remembered as a great imo.
18 Sep 2012, 09:29 am
@Skeppie-92: Rubbish. In the world cup quarter final Brussouw made 3 out of 4 tackles in 17 minutes until he went off injured – Louw made 3 out of 4 tackles in the remaining 63 minutes. How does that make Louw a better test tackler?
18 Sep 2012, 09:32 am
@papaown-98: For me it is more than who is better F Louw or Brussow [ by the way my vote goes to Brussow ]….
It is about a mind shift that HM has seemingly undergone…..
And I truly believe it is a significant one….
I have always maintained that at the breakdown most games are won and lost….and you have to fight fire with fire…..Pitbull against Pitbull……no Alsatian / Doberman hybrids please…..
Now just to let HM see the need for a proper 10 and we may be on our way to fulfilling some Bok potential……
Of course this all needs to go hand in hand with a revision of the game plan….the skop en jag en bid is a cowardly cop out….
18 Sep 2012, 09:32 am
@Skeppie-101: Think about it. Which Province will he be first choice 15 straight away?
Sharks have Ludik/Viljoen who are already in a juicy scrap for 15.
Stormers have Aplon/Pietersen
Bulls have Kirchner, and they clearly love Zane.
Free State have Daniller.
Clearly, Taute will not walk into any Super Rugby side as first choice 15. Despite being a somewhat illogical fans favourite above all others.
18 Sep 2012, 09:33 am
@poppa69-104: Good point I suppose. Interesting to know the AB’s opinion on Juan Smith, I have heard a few times that they always rated him the Boks hardest, most difficult forward to play against. Now that’s a rating that is worth something!
18 Sep 2012, 09:34 am
@Heavens Game-107: Other than Kings of course… I actually forgot that they are now a Super rugby franchise. Silly me, how could I.
18 Sep 2012, 09:35 am
@Bokhoring-105: Not rubbish my man not rubbish at all. As I posted yesterday stats are not a clear basis, Morne Steyn can make 10 tackles in a game but if 9 of them allow the ball carrier to make 5m through the tackle and then off load into space how is that a good thing, then people point to stats and say he made 10/11 tackles and defended well. And no I am not saying that brussow cannot tackle, clearly he can but for me Flo will make more offensive tackles at test level. Same with ball carrying.
18 Sep 2012, 09:35 am
@stormersboy-102: he ws on illegal substances, happy now?
18 Sep 2012, 09:37 am
@Heavens Game-107: IMO he is better than all of those you have listed. Province would not be a good option as they are pretty well stocked but for me he would start at the Cheetahs and should start ahead of Zane, although I agree he probably wouldn’t as Zane is an institution at the Bulls.
18 Sep 2012, 09:40 am
@Transformation-111: Being a little bit disingenuous and slightly devious this fine day…again. Fancy that…
18 Sep 2012, 09:41 am
@Transformation-111: It’s not about being happy. It’s about being accurate. There’s a big difference between unknowingly taking a banned stimulant that is present in many over the counter supplements and taking ‘roids, which is almost impossible to take unknowingly.
18 Sep 2012, 09:44 am
@Skeppie-112: Why is he “better”? How? Is he safer than Kirchner or Ludik under high ball… Does he have longer punt distance than Daniller/Pietersen/Viljoen… Is he better on counterrattack than Aplon… or is he a better tackler than Ludik/Aplon? Does he have more out and out pace than any of these guys?
I cant see it… Sorry…
18 Sep 2012, 09:44 am
@Heavens Game-113: i have to begin every day on the front foot
@stormersboy-114: i’m quite aware of what happened to johan, i was being flippant with londonshark but hey you turned into a “correction” exercise…
18 Sep 2012, 09:46 am
@poppa69-104: Well said. Been a long time since last lucid, eh?
18 Sep 2012, 09:47 am
didn’t read through the article for no other reason other than that cardenelli wrote it.
The Puff Divy of the Keo Journo’s.
Regardless of that, Louw really impressed me and was a great selection by meyer. A little out of the blue when everyone and their dog were calling for Brussouw, Daniels,etc.
Now, if the Boks can just decide on who their jumper at the back of the lineout will be it will take immense pressure off the middle of our lineout giving us more options and less contestable.
18 Sep 2012, 09:49 am
Brussow/Flo should always be the options at 6 the only other I would consider atm as a 6 would be J Stauus but hes gone, (kolisi & Cotzee could both become good 6s or 8s)
We are missing one of the best things that did come out of RWC – Alberts & Hougie as Super Death Subs. Look at the impact Smith makes for blacks and hougie did it in RWC as with Albrts uness Alberts make sure to do the hArd hitting early and breaks opposition then Cotzee & Hougie bring the speed in second half. (agree FSteyn be devistating with bit more form and attacking pivot, missing JPP..
Taute needs to get involved in Super Rugby we need him in bok mix ASAP!
18 Sep 2012, 09:50 am
@Heavens Game-115: Ok let’s break it down. He is pretty safe under the high ball, he is a solid defender so in those two aspects he is solid but IMO not necessarily better than some of the names you have mentioned. On the counter attack he has no peer, and I include Aplon in that (and I really rate Aplon) and in terms of pace he has more pace than all of the names you mentioned except possibly Aplon who may have more in the first 20m. So all in all for my money he is the complete package and to boot he is young and can be groomed into a world class bok. Daniller/Pietersen/Ludik/Aplon are all a few years older than him.
18 Sep 2012, 09:50 am
@poppa69-104:
yip, we definately need some of juan smits hard edge.
Just think, we used to have him,bakkies, guthro, bismaark and skalk in the pack.
Which brings me to believe that the kiwi pack is also not quite as good at the moment either.
18 Sep 2012, 09:50 am
For me last weekend was the first time Louw showed up to the party at test level, good game. Penalty at the end sealed the result for NZ however, Meyer is right to say they’re penalised a lot.
18 Sep 2012, 09:52 am
@Guns-119: Do you mean Josh Strauss? As a 6?
18 Sep 2012, 09:54 am
@poppa69-82:
listen dimwit, kiwis are using a different ball to the one we’re using in sa and in many places elsewhere.
“pringboks captain Jean de Villiers suggested the switch from the Gilbert ball which is used in South Africa, to the adidas ball used in New Zealand, was a factor.
England’s Jonny Wilkinson also blamed the ball during his struggles during last year’s World Cup, when he kicked seven from 14 in Dunedin.”
18 Sep 2012, 09:58 am
Brig – Kiwi pack was guilty of playing as individuals against boks, don’t think they will be like that in the return game. we do miss Thirn and Kaino, they were our Smiths.
but you need to adapt or die, as an AB fan I am quite glad they were comprehensively outplayed.
think Mealamu and Retallick should have started though, and won’t be surprised in these are thaw changes for the soccer city game, also think Vito may get in ahead of Messan
HG. lucid? it’s the air in the French countryside, it’s why your posts resemble intelligence at the moment
18 Sep 2012, 09:59 am
@stormersboy-114:
he should be ashamed of himself, really.
to taint someone as a steroid user just like that.
18 Sep 2012, 09:59 am
@Skeppie-110: Now you are talking sh_it. Morne would never make 10 tackles in a game.
18 Sep 2012, 09:59 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-121:
And we still lost more than we won against the top sides, maybe less brawn and more finesse, skill and intelligence is the way to go ? Get the balance right and we will be unbeatable.
18 Sep 2012, 10:00 am
@garth-53: Sorry Garth
6. Brussouw 7. Louw 8. Vermeulen
Have Alberts at 4 to partner Etsebeth at 5. These guys are mobile enough and will rule the breakdown.
This just makes far too much sense, so cant be a possibility
PS. Think Bekker will come right soon, once hes over his injuries properly
18 Sep 2012, 10:01 am
Bakkies. so JDV is making excuses now? same for both teams chump. or did the kiwis use different rugby balls at the WC than everyone else?
lmfao. you are really pathetic. and do all Saffas a disservice with your continual paranoia
seek help buddy.
18 Sep 2012, 10:05 am
@Skeppie-120: I dont agree that he is the “full package”… Not even close.
That peerless counterrattacking you talk of: At what level has he shown that?
Aplon and even Ludik have shown very good counterrattacking at Super Rugby level.
Certainly he is not slow, but there is no way that he is the fastest 15 in SA.
You talk of Joubert like qualities, however I remember Jouba as being a master of joining the backline at pace… Taute is not near that… Actually I reckon Lambie joins the backline from Fullback better than any of the other 15s. Jouba was also master of positioning. Taute is no master here yet… I reckon the best 2 fullbacks at positioning are Pietersen and Ludik.
I suspect that with Taute we may very much have a case of overrate. He is good, has talent, but is nowhere as good as he is made out to be.
18 Sep 2012, 10:06 am
@garth-127: Ok ok, 10 “pulls on a jersey”
18 Sep 2012, 10:07 am
Bekker also looked lively, albeit against tiring legs…
If he can regain some form, our lock stocks will start to come together nicely – Etzebeth & Kruger being the standout performers throughout 2012, strong and disciplined performance showcased by Flip this passed weekend, and an improving Bressler in the wings.
Reminded me of the episode where Ray Jennings dropped Makhaya Ntini out of the Protea squad. The “Mdingi Express” express came back more hungrier for success, and enjoyed a bit of a purple patch for a season or two. That’s the sort of “management” Bekker needs at the moment.
18 Sep 2012, 10:07 am
@Bok fan-129: Flo and Brussow in the team and Alberts at lock? Ok so then we are loaded to compete at the breakdown but now have jeaposdised our 1st phase. Lineout options will be reduced dramatically and our scrum will battle. We need balance, can’t simply play who we like.
18 Sep 2012, 10:08 am
@poppa69-125: Lol… Fark off with the Perpignan air bulldust…
18 Sep 2012, 10:08 am
@poppa69-130:
the kak weather / atmospheric conditions of that ****** stadium may be the same for both teams but the familiarity with the ball is not.
your teams play with it far more often therefore are able to become more comfortable and knowlegable with its use and how to best strike it for success.
non kiwis are used to a very different ball and are therefore better at its use than they are with the adidas balls.
18 Sep 2012, 10:09 am
s h i t t y
18 Sep 2012, 10:09 am
@Heavens Game-131: S15 just like the others, except he has had to do it in a team that was continually getting pumped which makes his acheivements even more noteworthy. If Taute is not the quickest out of the current S15 fullbacks then enlighten me as to who is?
18 Sep 2012, 10:10 am
@Pot Blou Gevaar-133: Great post!
18 Sep 2012, 10:14 am
@Skeppie-139:
18 Sep 2012, 10:21 am
@Skeppie-138: Aplon faster than him definitely… Kirchner too… I reckon he is probably level with Ludik for pace. But he certainly is not safer under high ball than Ludik and certainly is not a better one on one tackler than either Aplon or Ludik.
However, having pace does not make a 15 elusive as we clearly see with Zane. Taute is somehwat elusive but not out and out better than a few of the other fullbacks who have already gone through the highs and lows of having to perform consistently at the highest levels – not some flash in the pan brilliance here and there.
18 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
@touch.pause.engage-128:
our issue has generally always been with our backs at bok level. We have generally always been able to get enough ball. If there has been issues with the boks I’d say that we lack for tighthead props. a hardnosed prop that can damage opposition. Also, quality opensiders. Krige was shite, Aiken before him,etc.
This is telling in the penalty count that by default also loses you games.
Lets not forget that we are in an era were newzealand have 2 players that could be considered the greatest ever to play for them as well. mccaw and carter.
18 Sep 2012, 10:30 am
One thing that really annoyed me on Saturday – why do we give the opposition 4 m extra territory on our lineouts? Is it because the forwards are trying to get closer to Morne who is standing 25m back?
This is nonsense – you don’t give them a bl00dy inch.
18 Sep 2012, 10:32 am
@Skeppie-134: The only non jumper would be Brussow, Flo and Vermeulen are very capable jumpers. As I mentioned I think Bekker will come right and would be in the mix with Alberts rotating with the loosies more and backup for extra grunt in the locks depending on the opposition. The breakdown and your number 10 are the 2 most critical aspects in the modern game IMO, always been 10, breakdown more recently.
Our problems at scrum time is because we’ve had an average tighthead for about 6 years now, if we could bring back WP Nel, Mujati, Human or someone that can do the job consistenly, then this wouldnt be a factor
18 Sep 2012, 10:38 am
@Heavens Game-141: Never, Kirchner is no where near as fast as Taute. I reckon Aplon may take him over a short distance but possibly not past 40m. I agree pace is not everything but IMO (And it’s an opinion) Taute is the most complete 15 we have available.
18 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-124: It should be one regulation ball for the entire tournament. I wonder why they change them.
18 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
@Bok fan-144: I think you are underestimating the importance of set pieces. I agree the breakdown is vitally important and even though I would rather go with Flo, I would be happy with Brussow in the side as well however that said we still need forwards who give us clean scrum ball and good attacking lineout pill.
18 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
@Pot Blou Gevaar-133: and Morne?
he’s getting preferential treatment imo
18 Sep 2012, 10:41 am
@Big Hit-146: Why would the kiwi’s use the normal ball for S15 and then change it for the tests? Surely this would disadvantage their players as well?
18 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
@Skeppie-147: but we don’t attack from good set piece ball, all we do is set up pods to create phases and if that doesn’t work we kick it up for the chasers or morne attempts to drop whether it is the 1st of 79th min.
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