Wilco Louw anticipates scrum showdown with Sharks’ Springbok front row
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Wilco Louw Bulls tighthead prop Wilco Louw (right) is known for his scrummaging, but hopes to put in an allround performance, especially on defence, in the URC semi-finals against the Sharks on Saturday.
Image: AFP
While Wilco Louw didn’t want to make Saturday’s scrum duel with Ox Nche a two-man battle, the Bulls’ hardman is eager to test himself against the front row of the Sharks in a high-stakes clash.
Loftus Versfeld (6.15pm kick-off) will host the second semi-final of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and while the match is already a high-profile one, the scrum battle between the two sides could enhance the clash.
Two Springbok front rows will go up against each other in all likelihood with Louw leading the Bulls’ onslaught alongside young Boks hooker Johan Grobbelaar and loosehead prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels. On the side of the Sharks, it’s a veteran front-row with Nche, and double World Cup winners Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) and Vincent Koch (tighthead) probably waiting on the Bulls.
According to Louw, who on Wednesday was selected in the URC Elite XV of the season, they are putting in the work to halt the Sharks’ scrum come Saturday.
“Against Munster, they had incredible scrums all the way through the entire 100 minutes. In the second half, especially, they dominated,” Louw said.
“However, it won’t just be me against them. It will be the Bulls against the Sharks and importantly, we must play as a unit and scrum together as a pack. We should not try to be too individualistic. We must draw strength from the team.
“It is a massive privilege being able to measure yourself against the best in the world. Ox, Bongi and Vincent have won some World Cups.
"This weekend I scrummed against Pierre Schoeman who was selected for the British and Irish Lions. It’s nice to go up against them because it is never easy.”
Louw aims to contribute beyond just scrummaging. He is looking forward to putting his head into the rucks to clean the Sharks’ poachers at the breakdown.
"He wants to contribute with the ball in hand on the attack. There is also the prospect to put some hard hits on the ball carriers of the visiting side.
All this, he hopes, will contribute to a well-rounded performance from him.
“You can’t just be good in one facet of the game. We try to do well in the scrums, not just to focus on scrummaging, but carrying the ball up and doing my work well on other parts of the field. I can definitely still focus on that.
“Across the competition, we have tightheads who can scrum well, put in the tackles and they make their cleans. It shows how good the URC is, and the standard is excellent.”
Meanwhile, like Louw, teammate Wessels and Cameron Hanekom were also selected in the Elite XV. Eighthman Hanekom was also honoured as the URC Next-Gen Player of the Season.
He joins Ruben van Heerden (Tackle Machine), Tom Farrell (Playmaker), Ioan Llyod (Gilbert Golden Boot), Harri Millard (OFX Top Try Scorer), and Cam Winnett (Ironman) in winning individual awards for their monumental efforts this season.