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

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

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

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

6 Comments
R
RW 234 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 235 days ago

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

B
Bull Shark 235 days ago

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

G
GrahamVF 235 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 234 days ago

😂What might?😂

J
Jimmy 235 days ago

😂

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Aric Boyer 10 minutes ago
Waratahs turn to 'tough bugger' for captaincy with more history on the line

I Could Hardly Breathe! Months of tireless fundraising had finally come through for my small nonprofit, and we had $300,000 in Bitcoin to supply food, shelter, and medical aid to refugees fleeing war. That fund was hope, a future for families who had no other place to turn. It all fell apart in an instant. Our treasurer, a man I'd trusted like a brother, vanished overnight and took the entire fund with him. I was heartbroken. The weight of the people who were depending on us pressed against my chest. I could hardly breathe. I looked at my screen, powerless to do anything as the blockchain ledger confirmed my worst nightmare, the funds had been moved through a series of wallets, vanished into thin air.

Sleepless and remorseful, I consulted a crisis management expert in a desperate phone call. With the calm, panic-slashing tone of her voice, she spoke GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Her confidence was the sort that spoke of seen miracles. At that straw of hope, I grasped and called them immediately.

From that first call, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES treated my case like those refugee lives were in their own hands. Their lead investigator explained their approach, tracing transactions through blockchains, monitoring wallet activity, and leveraging relationships with international exchanges. They explained it all in plain terms, never once making me feel dumb for my ignorance. They understood both the technical complexity and the human stakes.

There were daily progress reports. They followed the laundering path our treasurer had attempted, following the trail through the decentralized exchanges and privacy-focused mixers. Each breakthrough was like a heartbeat resuscitating a stilled chest. On the nineteenth day, they called with the words I had scarcely dared to hope: "We got it back."

I got down on my knees and wept. $300,000 was safely recovered to our nonprofit wallet. But GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES didn't hesitate. They guided us through implementing enhanced security measures, such as multi-signature wallets, cold storage solutions, and rigorous internal oversight. They even advised us on vetting future financial officers.

Our mission is stronger today than ever. Refugee families are still being assisted, and I sleep well knowing our funds are secure. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES not only retrieved our Bitcoin, they restored my faith in resiliency and human kindness. You can reach them on web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

0 Go to comments
A
AlyonaDaryna 1 hour ago
Les clubs anglais sont-ils les seuls à blâmer pour leurs performances en Champions Cup ?

As a thriller writer, I'm pleased to have crafted suspense for high-stakes disasters, kidnappings, computer hacking break-ins, and political scandals. Nothing in my writer's arsenal had prepared me, however, for the chilling real-world danger of losing my $290,000 hoard of Bitcoin savings. This horror was not to play out in some dimly lit alley or foggy backroom but in my kitchen, fueled by writer's block and Red Bull. I'd been up for 36 hours, writing the denouement of my new book, a crypto heist thriller, ironically enough, when tragedy struck. Bleary-eyed, I attempted to organize my digital files, but in my sleep-deprived state, I reformatted the USB drive containing my private keys in error. I felt as though I'd written myself into a plot twist with no escape. Panic was more crippling to me than any looming deadline. I tried everything, data recovery programs, techie friends, even making a final, desperate call to the manufacturer, whose support person, bless her heart, was more concerned about my hydration status than my financial ruin. I was about to pen my own doleful ending when a midnight Google splash led me to (TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT). They'd been featured in a technology blog's "Real-Life Mysteries" series—a fitting discovery for a suspense-addicted author. The tale described their work in recovering funds from ransomware attacks and lost hardware. It was the origin story of a band of cyber superheroes.

I shouted out, anticipating a robo-support reply. But instead, I received a human being, a calming, smart voice that informed me I was not the first writer to make a catastrophe of a blunder (though I might win an award for most sleep-deprived). Their computer forensics division handled my case like a detective division closing a cold case. They took me through each step using words even a writer could understand. They used advanced data reconstruction techniques to retrieve my keys from the wiped drive, an endeavor they compared to un-erasing a book manuscript burned to ashes. Ten nail-sucking days passed, and I opened my email inbox to read: "Funds Recovered." A rush of relief swept over me like the greatest plot twist. My story did have a happy ending, after all. I now backup everything like a mad villain, but I sleep soundly too, knowing (TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT) is out there, the little-known heroes of fiction and real life.

REACH OUT TO TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT CONTACT SERVICE

Email. Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com

Telegram. Trustgeekshackexpert

Email. info@trustgeekshackexpert.com

Website. www://trustgeekshackexpert.com

0 Go to comments
A
Andrea Irvine 2 hours ago
Lyon rejoint le Racing 92 en quart de finale de la Challenge Cup

I can rewire a human brain, course through the most sensitive neural pathways, and restore life with steady hands and a sharp scalpel. But it would appear none of those prepared me for the horror of a hardware wallet that had decided it wanted to self-destruct. It had been years since my Ledger device had sat comfortably in my drawer, unvexed and pristine, like a relic from my earlier Bitcoin investment days. Then came the fateful evening when I decided to switch it on just to check on my stash. That is when I was greeted by an error message so incomprehensible that it could as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphics. At first, I kept calm. I had been in life-and-death situations before, so surely, I could troubleshoot a problem with my wallet. Rebooting? Nothing. Firmware reset? Even worse. With every attempt, my precious $680,000 worth of Bitcoin seemed to slip further from my grasp. The real panic set in when I realized that I had stored my recovery phrase somewhere "safe"-so safe that even I couldn't remember where it was. Hours of frantic searching, multiple YouTube tutorials, and a last-ditch effort to reach out to Ledger support resulted in one grim conclusion: "Your funds may be irretrievable." As a neurosurgeon, I’m used to bad news—but this? Unacceptable. That is when I discovered TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. A little skeptical I was- if they couldn't help me, a manufacturer of the device, then how would anyone else? I had nothing to lose. The moment I reached out to them, I knew I had done the right thing: I was professional, transparent, and confident that they could recover my lost Bitcoin. They performed some kind of digital wallet emergency surgery, getting everything back in six days. Through what can only be described as magic, by way of forensic techniques, they bypassed corruption and extracted my private keys and every Satoshi, to boot. If it stopped there, that would've been great; then they walked me through how to properly secure my assets going forward more "too safe to find" backups. I may be the expert in the operating room, but when it comes to resuscitating a dead crypto wallet, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY is your team on call. Cold storage has failed; don't try to self-operate, just get the pros in before your Bitcoin flatlines. VISIT THEM ONEMAIL: Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.comTELEGRAM: @TECHCYBERFORCWhatsApp: +1 561 726 36 97

0 Go to comments
A
Andrea Irvine 5 hours ago
Ulster go down fighting in Champions Cup defeat to Bordeaux

I can rewire a human brain, course through the most sensitive neural pathways, and restore life with steady hands and a sharp scalpel. But it would appear none of those prepared me for the horror of a hardware wallet that had decided it wanted to self-destruct. It had been years since my Ledger device had sat comfortably in my drawer, unvexed and pristine, like a relic from my earlier Bitcoin investment days. Then came the fateful evening when I decided to switch it on just to check on my stash. That is when I was greeted by an error message so incomprehensible that it could as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphics. At first, I kept calm. I had been in life-and-death situations before, so surely, I could troubleshoot a problem with my wallet. Rebooting? Nothing. Firmware reset? Even worse. With every attempt, my precious $680,000 worth of Bitcoin seemed to slip further from my grasp. The real panic set in when I realized that I had stored my recovery phrase somewhere "safe"-so safe that even I couldn't remember where it was. Hours of frantic searching, multiple YouTube tutorials, and a last-ditch effort to reach out to Ledger support resulted in one grim conclusion: "Your funds may be irretrievable." As a neurosurgeon, I’m used to bad news—but this? Unacceptable. That is when I discovered TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. A little skeptical I was- if they couldn't help me, a manufacturer of the device, then how would anyone else? I had nothing to lose. The moment I reached out to them, I knew I had done the right thing: I was professional, transparent, and confident that they could recover my lost Bitcoin. They performed some kind of digital wallet emergency surgery, getting everything back in six days. Through what can only be described as magic, by way of forensic techniques, they bypassed corruption and extracted my private keys and every Satoshi, to boot. If it stopped there, that would've been great; then they walked me through how to properly secure my assets going forward more "too safe to find" backups. I may be the expert in the operating room, but when it comes to resuscitating a dead crypto wallet, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY is your team on call. Cold storage has failed; don't try to self-operate, just get the pros in before your Bitcoin flatlines. VISIT THEM ONEMAIL: Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.comTELEGRAM: @TECHCYBERFORCWhatsApp: +1 561 726 36 97

0 Go to comments
A
Andrea Irvine 6 hours ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

I can rewire a human brain, course through the most sensitive neural pathways, and restore life with steady hands and a sharp scalpel. But it would appear none of those prepared me for the horror of a hardware wallet that had decided it wanted to self-destruct. It had been years since my Ledger device had sat comfortably in my drawer, unvexed and pristine, like a relic from my earlier Bitcoin investment days. Then came the fateful evening when I decided to switch it on just to check on my stash. That is when I was greeted by an error message so incomprehensible that it could as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphics. At first, I kept calm. I had been in life-and-death situations before, so surely, I could troubleshoot a problem with my wallet. Rebooting? Nothing. Firmware reset? Even worse. With every attempt, my precious $680,000 worth of Bitcoin seemed to slip further from my grasp. The real panic set in when I realized that I had stored my recovery phrase somewhere "safe"-so safe that even I couldn't remember where it was. Hours of frantic searching, multiple YouTube tutorials, and a last-ditch effort to reach out to Ledger support resulted in one grim conclusion: "Your funds may be irretrievable." As a neurosurgeon, I’m used to bad news—but this? Unacceptable. That is when I discovered TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY. A little skeptical I was- if they couldn't help me, a manufacturer of the device, then how would anyone else? I had nothing to lose. The moment I reached out to them, I knew I had done the right thing: I was professional, transparent, and confident that they could recover my lost Bitcoin. They performed some kind of digital wallet emergency surgery, getting everything back in six days. Through what can only be described as magic, by way of forensic techniques, they bypassed corruption and extracted my private keys and every Satoshi, to boot. If it stopped there, that would've been great; then they walked me through how to properly secure my assets going forward more "too safe to find" backups. I may be the expert in the operating room, but when it comes to resuscitating a dead crypto wallet, TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY is your team on call. Cold storage has failed; don't try to self-operate, just get the pros in before your Bitcoin flatlines. VISIT THEM ONEMAIL: Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.comTELEGRAM: @TECHCYBERFORCWhatsApp: +1 561 726 36 97

4 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Sale boss Alex Sanderson: 'I’ve had two lads come up and apologise' Sale boss Alex Sanderson: 'I’ve had two lads come up and apologise'
Search