Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

‘Show the people what a B team can do’: Elrigh Louw’s warning for Wallabies

South Africa's Feinberg-Mngomezulu (L) and Elrigh Louw attend the team's captains run at the Brisbane Grammar Playing fields in Brisbane on August 9, 2024, ahead of the Rugby Championship match between Australia and South Africa. (Photo by Tertius PICKARD / AFP

Backrower Elrigh Louw is part of an exclusive club heading into the second round of The Rugby Championship. The Springboks’ No. 8 is one of only five players who’ve retained their spot in the starting side after last weekend’s demolition of the Wallabies in Brisbane.

ADVERTISEMENT

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit is the only other forward who shares that honour and privilege ahead of the second Test Down Under. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe are the other survivors from the 33-7 win.

It’s a bold call for coach Rassie Erasmus to make – not that the rugby guru is a stranger to making sensationally brave selection decisions. Erasmus explained on Tuesday that these mass changes weren’t a sign of “disrespect” towards the Aussies but the narrative persists.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Erasmus’ comments haven’t stopped the rugby world from talking. Media outlets in New Zealand, Australia and around the world have labelled the new-look starting XV as the Springboks’ ‘B team’ before Saturday’s clash at Optus Stadium.

That’s a fairly strong way to describe a team of professional athletes but the players themselves aren’t getting caught up in those discussions from those outside of the team’s inner sanctum. If anything, they’re looking at the funny side of it all as Elrigh Louw suggested.

Louw sat down with RugbyPass at the team hotel on Wednesday. With a smile, the backrower quipped that the Springboks are looking forward to showing the world “what a B team can do” when they engage in rugby battle.

“Obviously, there are players that will start most of the games but I don’t see it as an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ team and I think the squad as well, we don’t see it in that manner,” Louw said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I think we see it as an opportunity to build some squad depth and build some experience as a pack and as a team.

“We’re actually quite excited to go out there on Saturday and show the people what a B team can do.”

Match Summary

0
Penalty Goals
0
1
Tries
5
1
Conversions
4
0
Drop Goals
0
114
Carries
139
4
Line Breaks
9
11
Turnovers Lost
15
6
Turnovers Won
4

Louw played 56 minutes last weekend in Brisbane before going off as a replacement for the reliable Kwagga Smith. The 24-year-old finished with the second-most carries out of any Boks player with 15 and he also got stuck in on the defensive side of the ball.

It was a masterful performance from the Springboks as a collective as they snapped a losing run at Suncorp Stadium dating back more than a decade. South Africa hadn’t beaten Australia in Brisbane since 2013 but that hoodoo is now in the past.

ADVERTISEMENT

Captain Siya Kolisi peeled off a maul inside the opening 10 minutes to score the opening try, and Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse also got on the scoresheet during the first term. Arendse had another after the break, as did Louw’s replacement Kwagga Smith.

While the hosts had the last laugh with Hunter Paisami scoring a late try, the result was literally never in doubt. The Wallabies barely fired a shot as the Springboks ran riot on the back of an attacking masterclass and clinical work in defence.

But that was last week. If you’re a fan of this sport chances are you’ve heard the saying that ‘a week is a long time in Test rugby.’ It’s an overused cliché but it’s true. The Wallabies will be desperate to make amends before heading to Argentina for two Tests.

“You can easily be lured into a false sense of security once you beat a team and you have to back that performance up,” Louw explained.

“Even with the changes that coach Rassie made for this weekend, I think we are hungry and we are ready to put another solid performance up this weekend.

“We want to be the first and the second best team in the world and I think that’s what we’re striving for. So, this weekend is an opportunity to set ourselves up in the Championship in a good position.

“We’ve got a plan and I think we just have to execute that this weekend.”

Australia have been forced into some changes with Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams and Filipo Daugunu all picking up injuries during the defeat in Brisbane. Angus Blyth, Seru Uru and Marika Koroibete all come into the 23 for the upcoming clash in Western Australia.

Test veteran Nic White also comes into the starting side as a replacement for Jake Gordon. White will link up with former ACT Brumbies halves partner Noah Lolesio, while Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau form the midfield duo once again.

There’s a lot to talk about with that team but the simple takeaway is clear: the Wallabies are looking for a vastly improved performance and they believe they’ve picked a team to do just that. The Springboks expect nothing less.

“I think they’re going to be a much more sharper and improved team this weekend,” he added. “You can’t underestimate them, especially this weekend after a loss like that.

“We have a plan and we’ll be ready for whatever they bring.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

6 Comments
R
RW 229 days ago

I don't get why swapping out players against teams is 'disrespectful'? People these days are so touchy/fussy. So sensitive. And of course people generally have already made up their minds about Rassie. The crazy part is, he doesn't care what people think. He knows what he needs to do and what he can do and he does it. Everyone else stares in disbelief because they couldn't possibly have thought of it themselves.

J
JK 230 days ago

QOTD 'Perth has the stickiness of Durbs but you're in Australia...worst of both worlds'

B
Bull Shark 230 days ago

If you don’t like the idea of playing the B team, fix your own A team.

G
GrahamVF 231 days ago

I think the colour green doesn’t only describe the Springbok jersey - some of the scribes who are talking of disrespect by the Springboks are displaying a distinctly verdant tint to their auras. This match day 23 that “disrespects” the Aussies contains 15 WC gold medal winners. Dear me what a disrespect to select a full team of World Cup winners to take on the might of Australian rugby.

R
RW 229 days ago

😂What might?😂

J
Jimmy 231 days ago

😂

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

E
Elizabeth M Joshua 1 hour ago
What Newcastle 'can’t legislate for' as they face fellow basement dwellers

## A Remarkable Recovery

I'm Elizabeth Joshua from Mississippi, and my journey to recovering my stolen USDT coins was nothing short of miraculous. It began with a devastating loss of $267,400 to a cunning scammer. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming, and I thought my money was gone forever. Website: Brunoequickhack.COM

However, my luck changed when I stumbled upon Brunoe Quick Hack's services online. Their reputation for being reliable and efficient in recovering stolen cryptocurrency caught my attention. I decided to take a chance and reached out to them.

To my surprise, Brunoe Quick Hack's team was professional, responsive, and transparent throughout the entire process. They worked tirelessly to track down the scammer and recover my stolen USDT coins. Their expertise and dedication were truly impressive.

In a remarkable turn of events, Brunoe Quick Hack successfully recovered my stolen funds. I was overjoyed and relieved to see the money safely returned to my account. WhatsApp: +1705-784-(2635)

My experience with Brunoe Quick Hack has been nothing short of exceptional. Their service is top-notch, and I highly recommend them to anyone who has fallen victim to cryptocurrency scams. If you're looking for a reliable and efficient solution to recover your stolen funds, look no further than Brunoe Quick Hack.

## A Testimonial to Excellence

I'm thrilled to refer Brunoe Quick Hack's services to the globe. Their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction are truly remarkable. If you need help recovering stolen cryptocurrency, don't hesitate to reach out to Brunoe Quick Hack. They are the real deal. Email: BrunoequickhackATgmail.com

0 Go to comments
d
dimitrirassam299 2 hours ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

For months, I had been diving deep into the world of cryptocurrency, excited by the opportunities and promises of financial freedom. Like many others, I had heard of people making life changing gains overnight, and I wanted my share of the success. Unfortunately, in my eagerness, I fell victim to a well disguised scam that drained my Ethereum ETH holdings. It started when I stumbled upon an investment platform that seemed too good to be true but in my greed and hope, I ignored the warning signs. The website had polished testimonials, a smooth interface, and a community that appeared legitimate. I transferred a significant amount of Ethereum, expecting high returns in a matter of weeks. Days turned into weeks, then months, and soon  I realized I had been scammed,I was devastated. That money was not just a financial asset; it was my hard earned savings, my dreams of financial security. I reached out to the so-called support team of the platform, but my emails went unanswered, and the website eventually vanished. I was left with nothing but regret.Just when I was about to give up, a friend told me about Washington Recovery Pro a specialized asset recovery service that had helped victims like me retrieve lost funds from fraudulent schemes. Skeptical but desperate, I decided to reach out. Their response was swift and professional. They assured me that while many scams are sophisticated, their team had the expertise to trace and recover stolen digital asset one day, I woke up to an email notification that your funds had been successfully recovered. I logged into my crypto wallet, and there it was my ETH, safely returned. I could hardly believe it.For anyone who has lost money in crypto scams, I say that there is still hope. Washington Recovery Pro proved that with the right team, justice can prevail.their handles.

WhatsApp-‪  +1 (903) 249‑8633‬

4 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Surprise position switch for Sevu Reece as Crusaders prepare for Drua Surprise position switch for Sevu Reece
Search