Flo flying high
19 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in London, writes that Francois Louw has made the transition from competent Test openside flank to a world-class one who is indispensable to the Springboks’ cause.
At the outset of his tenure Heyneke Meyer rejected the notion that an international side with ambitions of dominating the game could achieve that end with a openside that was solely deployed to slow or steal breakdown ball. He argued that you need an all-rounder, equally adept at the aforementioned discipline as he is at carrying the ball effectively to and beyond the gainline.
In the absence of Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee fit the bill for Meyer. Prodigiously gifted, on form, abrasive, energetic and possessing a degree of mongrel that Burger would approve of, Coetzee was the right selection. That is, the right selection in the context of Meyer’s reservations about looking beyond the borders of South Africa for a candidate.
Louw had excelled in his first season at Bath, earning plaudits from England’s most respected observers, many of whom wondered in their broadsheet and website columns and on their radio and television shows why Louw was not in the Springboks frame. Some were incredulous, Stuart Barnes among them. ‘Louw can be as good as McCaw,’ he waxed.
Coetzee acquitted himself well against England and in the early rounds of the Rugby Championship, but he was undoubtedly raw, requiring further education in the subtleties of a position he is unfamiliar with (he had spent most of his career at No 8). Meyer had a great appreciation for Louw’s ability when he took the job, but solving his openside problem with a foreign-based solution didn’t sit comfortably. However, Louw has, on the strength of his performances, more than any advanced the cause of Europe-based players.
To single out a player in a game that operates on the cause and effect principle as strongly as rugby does is sometimes dangerous. When the Springboks have been physical and accurate at the gainline on defence, Louw has shone. But even when they haven’t his influence has not been so significantly diluted that he becomes anonymous in this facet of play. He shares this ability with McCaw and is learning to push the boundaries in the manner the All Blacks’ irrepressible skipper does.
And while it would be remiss to credit his transition for good to very good on his northern exposure (there is something to be said for the natural rise in potency of gifted young players like Louw who have yet to peak) entirely, it has played a significant role in shaping the player we now see.
‘I’ve got to give credit to the guys at Bath. I played under Sir Ian McGeechan last year and added different dimensions to my game. This year under Gary Gold and his staff has been equally educational,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘You try and pick up things as you go along and add that to your skills base. I’m happy it’s got me back with the Boks. The Springboks were and will always be No 1 for me.
‘The game has changed. More players are now looking to play abroad. Of course its important to keep players in South Africa, but there is value for international coaches looking at players based abroad.’
Meyer was liberal in his praise of Louw, but tempered that by pointing out that he was in superior physical condition given that the northern hemisphere’s season is in its infancy. Still, he was bold in saying: ‘He is up there with the best in the world at this stage.
‘I thought he was brilliant and has been every single game he has played. The thing I like about him is that while he is very, very good on the ground, he can also carry and break the line. He forces guys back in defence because he is quick despite being 112kg and very powerful. In the last three or four matches he has been close to the Man of the Match every time.’
The strength of the Springboks’ defence at present is not incidental. Louw’s contributions at ground zero have been telling in allowing his defensive line to set. He forced a penalty on his 5m line when Scotland looked like scoring a try just before half-time. It was, in light of what would unfold in the second half, an absolutely vital moment in the context of the result. With the Springboks relying so heavily on defence to win matches, Louw’s importance cannot be overstated.
Louw will be pushed hard in the years ahead when Burger returns from injury, if Coetzee develops in the manner he is expected to and if Heinrich Brussow can stay fit and rekindle the form that made him the world’s best openside in 2009. This is a healthy situation and hopefully inspires Louw to elevate his play.
This Test season will not be remembered fondly by the Springboks and their supporters, but it should be noted that it is the one Louw came of age as a Test player.
61 Comments
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19 Nov 2012, 05:46 am
Yaaaaa, dragons! hehehe
19 Nov 2012, 06:12 am
I definitely got this one (very very) wrong. Didn’t think much of him until this season.
Still don’t think Meyer should have discarded Brussow the way he did though. Heinrich is another world-class opensider who adds more pace to the game and could even add something different if played alongside Flo, who could just as easily play 7 or 8.
19 Nov 2012, 06:49 am
Fantastic Flo!
19 Nov 2012, 07:27 am
Always rated him! How WP let him go only they know.
Some of his offloads in the S15 for the Stormers won us games.
He has that special ingredient that some players just don’t have…..
19 Nov 2012, 07:44 am
Playing Burger, Flo and Brussouw at the same time would absolutely annihilate any team at the breakdown. Burger is a natural 8 and Flo can play 7, but in loose play they would be an awesome trio.
19 Nov 2012, 07:49 am
Louw’s selection one of the very few things that Meyer has done right this season , he’s been brilliant.
19 Nov 2012, 07:51 am
@hendrikp: very big of you to admit having slept on Flo….let’s see if ilovebaakies will have the same gumption
19 Nov 2012, 07:53 am
@garth-5: schalla would have to up his ball carrying game in the same way duane is failing there currently.
19 Nov 2012, 07:54 am
I think Ryan Vredee has found his new manlove. Two Flo articles in two days.
19 Nov 2012, 07:54 am
I’m not so sure Schalk is coming back.
19 Nov 2012, 08:56 am
6-louw
7-alberts
8-vermeulen (current loostrio)
Add to the equation:
6-Burger brussow
7-kolisi smit coetzee potgieter
8-spies kankowski botha
Spoiled for choice there HM?
We a bit thin in the lock department why not convert the likes of smit and alberts to number for lock? Something like a….
4-etzebeth
5-bekker
6-louw
7-burger
8-vermeulen
19-alberts/smit
20-spies/kankowski
19 Nov 2012, 09:29 am
Why in heavens name would Flo have to contend with Sc halk at 6 ?
has this author not learned a damn thing yet?
Brussow is an opensider
Flo is an opensider
Steggmann is an opensider…..
Schalk is a blindsider…….ffs man !
19 Nov 2012, 09:38 am
@Transformation-8: Flo was revelation, and Alberts seems tierd and Vermeulen is still nothing special, Juandre must do more at lock. Huge problem with depth at 3.
Backline…… nothing to say, cause even with JdJ there , there’s still nothing.
It seems HM is under so much pressure to win, that he will kill the game to get a win. Somewhat like Stormer S15 campaigh kill the game but win.
Back in 1981 the AB’s killed us upfront , but we with Naas at 10 ran them to pieces at back. No we kill them up front , and they run us to pieces at back.
19 Nov 2012, 09:51 am
@xtremebull-11: With , Spies Arno,Kanko, Luke and Schalk to pick at 8 , Vermeulen’s days are numbered.
19 Nov 2012, 10:10 am
SPIES?????????
If Spies played one game like Duane he’d be captain and all manna from heaven again. Duane has done the job so far. He is not a flash player but does the work asked from him!
19 Nov 2012, 10:17 am
@grant10-12: Heyneke Meyer probably sees them in a similar light, as hybrid-type players.
19 Nov 2012, 10:23 am
@Hoops-15: duane’z only problem is mobility atound the park & woth ball in hand…he is a carthorse when one lookd at the likes of read, picamoles, faletau, parisse, etc.
until spies has shown ballas in super rugby he shouldnt be anywhere near a Bok jersey…arno botha will show him up hopefully.
19 Nov 2012, 10:26 am
@Hoops-15: The stats don’t lie
And Saturday’s stats make Duane the hardest working player on the field – a fact some of our friends can’t seem to be able to cope with.
Our defence at the end won us that game….and Duane led the charge with the highest tackle count by a Tswhane mile. He also hit the most rucks…..
But of course because he is not posturing, flexing biceps, adjusting head and wrist bands whilst puffing his cheeks and running sideways – he is not a fave of the majority.
19 Nov 2012, 10:27 am
@super_adi-16: schalk had a fantastic WC playing blindside, he even added an oof-load to his game which has died a slow death with meyer & “kitch” van graan.
19 Nov 2012, 10:28 am
@Transformation-17: He ain’t ever going to be that type of 8th man, and that I will concede. But at this stage of the game, there is no other 8th man in SA I would have ahead of him, for now.
Keegan, for all the hype and hysteria, really isn’t an international starting 8 – a bencher most definitely (ditto for Kanko IMHO)
19 Nov 2012, 10:28 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-18: ao @ “running sideways”
19 Nov 2012, 10:29 am
Flo should remain humble in this whole process: What would have happened if Brussouw and other opensiders were present. The real measure will come when they play the AB. Sometimes I get the fealing that Duane and Alberts should rather play in the lock position. Marcel Coetsee will outomatically dissapear in the very near future because he can only tackle when he hangs around in the back line- not commited to the rucks at all. Etsebeth should also attend more rucks- one of his primarily functions. Kruger also makes very little impact at the rucks.
19 Nov 2012, 10:33 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-20: kanko had a flash in the pan spell @ the end of super rugby i he can keep the form for a whole season & get physical in the tight he can usurp duane easily imo but if he is still content with being a prancing ruck inspector then he will be in japan again come Test window.
19 Nov 2012, 10:33 am
@Transformation-21: Spies holds the record for crab metres gained.
19 Nov 2012, 10:36 am
palooka: Flo played the ABs & put the dimmers on McCaw in dunedin…done & dusted.
19 Nov 2012, 10:37 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-20: News flash , HM is bussy with a secret weapon plan, againts England . The Rock Vermeulen is starting at tight head , they did bleep tests and he was found to be slow enough.
19 Nov 2012, 10:39 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-18: Where do you get your stats ?
19 Nov 2012, 10:40 am
@Transformation-23: Kanko still needs to harden up a leeeeeeeeetle for international rugby IMHO (and yes I know the guppies will flay me now).
But he has had years and years and years to prance around like a racehorse, yet he fades and fails at the J & B Met…..
19 Nov 2012, 10:40 am
@capebull-27: They are on Rugby-talk. Go and look. And don’t fight the facts.
19 Nov 2012, 10:47 am
Duane is a really good player, but Schalk would be a great 8.
19 Nov 2012, 10:47 am
Tackles, Tackles missed, Runs, R/mauls, Penalties , Turnovers Coneded , knock on
Vermeulen 16 , 2, 6-35m, 6, 2, 1, 2
Denton, 5 , 0, 14-115m, 14, 0, 2, 0
19 Nov 2012, 10:51 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-29: I saw the stats are different , I get mine from rugbystats.com.au, do you think I can trust the Auzies
19 Nov 2012, 10:54 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-28: We all know you hate Spies and you hate Kanko , but are you serias in thinking Vermeulen offers more than these guys or does your hate for the others cloud yot judgement.
I really thought Vermeulen would bring more , he actually had some decent games in s15 , but he honestly looks like one of those players that can not step up to test rugga, there are a few, I am sure you can think of a few.
19 Nov 2012, 10:55 am
@garth-30:
have you seen schalk play at 8?
last version i saw – versus usa in 2007 rwc – he had hooves for hands.
19 Nov 2012, 10:58 am
@capebull-32: Never trust the Aussies……mistake No 1.
Duane Vermeulen
NUM8
80
6
35
16
2
0
0
0
0
6
1
Hit more rucks, made more tackles than anyone else. Strauss ruled in running metres at 71 with jean Div at 51.
Duane is clocked at 35m. Eben Etzebeth 2nd most rucks, and 2nd highest tackles…..
Lazy Stormer players….
19 Nov 2012, 11:02 am
@capebull-33: How does a player who can’t step up to test rugga, end up making the most tackles and hitting the most rucks? Whilst coming in at 4th on the metres gained list?
Nope, he doesn’t have Spies’s speed…..then again, when has Spies ever used it effectively.
Duane will never be the all round 8th man, because he does lack in certain areas. Kanko and Spies however have over the many many many many years of chances they have had, lacked in the ONE area an 8th man SIMPLY CAN’T lack in: hardasfuckingnailsiness. Them be softies – klaar. Keegan Daniel is harder than BOTH of them, as is Duane – the end.
19 Nov 2012, 11:02 am
Heyneke….
Just keep M Steyn and Spies away from Bok Team ….or squad.
Thanks
19 Nov 2012, 11:04 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-35: Stats look the same as mine
Tackles 16 missed 2
Rucks 6
Meters 35m
Penalties 2
+ 2 knocks
19 Nov 2012, 11:09 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-36: Its not the end, fortunatly we have a new year with players fit.
You like the stats when they say Vermeulen played OK , but when they tell a different story they are rubbish , or they show that other players did more they are rubbish.
19 Nov 2012, 11:11 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-36: So you are saying that Morne, and Teichman were Vermeulen type players , I thought Straulli was more the Vermeulen type- slow.
19 Nov 2012, 11:12 am
@charo-34: Charo, that was 5 years ago. He has since developed a passing game, he is still as tough as you get. He only needs to stop playing at 10. He is also a lineout option.
19 Nov 2012, 11:13 am
@capebull-39: Nope, I don’t buy into stats full stop. That’s your game. Which is why I am arguing Duane’s case for him, based on something YOU seem to base your entire rugby rating system on…….
If you take the so-called ‘bad’ stats, you have to take the ‘good’ ones as well.
The day stats can record how effective a tackle was, or how effective a run was is the day stats will mean something to me.
(PS: this weeks stats according to your school of thought, do not show Vermeulen as being simply OK. They show him to be one of the MAIN contributors. The Bizness…..)
19 Nov 2012, 11:14 am
For me its Vermeulen and Kanko for 8 spot
Brussow and Flo for 6 spot
all the rest can fight for 7 spot….
19 Nov 2012, 11:14 am
@capebull-40: Nope. Read carefully. (Pretend my words are stats, as you seem to understand those….)
19 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
@grant10-43: I’d like Brussouw, Biz and Flo on the field at the same time.
19 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
@Transformation-25:
Brussouw never lost a game when playing the AB. MOTM awards in 2 of the 4 matches played. I would call that done and dusted,
19 Nov 2012, 11:18 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-42: He does need all the help he can get , you are right.
19 Nov 2012, 11:20 am
@garth-45:
Agree full heartedly.
19 Nov 2012, 11:26 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-44: Hello Pedigreed Lady.Got to agree with you on DV.
Suited to NH.
Have a grear day
19 Nov 2012, 11:39 am
@ryecatcher-49: Hello my friend! Hope you are having a great day
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