Francois Louw heading into his third World Cup more prepared than ever
Veteran Springbok flanker Francois Louw is preparing for the third World Cup in his career, having been apart of the 2011 and 2015 campaigns.
For the 34-year-old loose forward now playing for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership, this will likely be his last chance to take home the William Webb Ellis trophy. Despite having all the World Cup experience in the world, the build-up to this one has been like no other.
“The preparation has been remarkably different for me,” Louw told media at a Wednesday press conference.
“I wasn’t initially involved in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup 2011 – I was a late inclusion in that side.
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“I joined the squad about two or three weeks prior to the guys leaving for New Zealand, whereas this time around, it has been a longer process. We’ve had our prep throughout the Championship and training weeks here and there.
“From a personal perspective, I am definitely more prepared, more in sync with what we are trying to achieve. We have put a lot of effort into our preparations for the various stages of the tournament.”
South Africa have had a resurgence under Rassie Erasmus, winning away in New Zealand last year for the first time since 2009 and drawing when they faced off again at the same venue in Wellington this year.
When the Rugby World Cup draw was originally announced, things were very different with South Africa sliding down the world rankings under Allister Coetzee. Now after three intense games, the rivarly between the two nations is back and shapes a much-anticipated pool stage encounter.
“The draw was done a few years ago when our world ranking wasn’t in the best place.
“It’s our biggest rival and it’s an exciting challenge. We’ve had one go against them this year and it’s very different circumstances now at a World Cup.
“We will just take the moment as it comes, do the best we can, and hope to get the result we want.”
One of the battles for Louw will be the loose forward clash against openside flankers Sam Cane and Ardie Savea, who have been both used in the starting line-up to bolster New Zealand’s back row.
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“Should they both be on the pitch together we will have our hands full there.
“In terms of competing at every ruck, you make that assessment of which rucks to compete at. Blindly going into every ruck from a stealer or poacher’s perspective is not really the most effective way of playing the game.
“Both those guys will choose their rucks carefully. In terms of combating that, we will have to make sure our cleaners arrive nice and early, the ball carriers must put that extra fight in the tackle – extra movement on the ground or pumping through the point of contact.
“We want to make sure we give our halfbacks clean ball.”
Since Erasmus took over, eight of Louw’s 12 tests for South Africa over that time have been coming off the bench. It is a role that he is expecting to provide at the World Cup, where often the game is won or lost.
“There have been some interesting moments in the last 10 to 15 minutes, whether it’s about closing out the game or fighting to get some points.
“There is definitely a tactic in terms of finishing a game, whether it’s closing out or striking to get that victory. It is something we have grown in.”
Scotland deploys shampoo in Japan:
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
59 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
59 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
59 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
59 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
59 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
59 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
59 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
59 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
59 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
59 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
59 Go to comments