Often we hear about the loneliness of the rehabilitation process for players, but few know the deep, dark depths that international rugby players need to go through to get themselves back on top, especially after a potentially career-threatening injury.
Elrigh Louw knows this all too well. The long road back lasted almost a year, and while on the sidelines, alone and facing his own demons to get back, he was determined to get through it all.
That all pays off this Saturday when he starts for the Springboks at seven against Argentina in Buenos Aires. A chance to prove himself in the Springbok set-up again and a chance to prove he belongs in the Green and Gold.
The player nicknamed “the Sheriff” because of his robust play, taking names on the field with physicality, stands back for nobody, but it was his battle against his own mind, against his own body that was the biggest one yet.
Louw spoke openly about those moments, that darkness that needed to be overcome when he fronted up ahead of the game on Wednesday night SA time. He gives credit to family and friends who helped him through it, and the determination that got him to this point.
"It was quite a big injury and devastating for me at the time," Louw explained how the knee injury turned into a nine month battle.
"There was a lot of support behind me — the whole family that helped me, the medical staff, and the rehab team to get back on the field in the time that I did.
"Just the motivation to be back in the Springbok squad was more than enough motivation for me to keep on working hard and to play rugby again to the best of my ability.
“We worked hard to get back onto the field in the time that we did. Mentally, forgetting about the injury was also a big part of it.”
Louw was part of a squad that lost in Argentina with a one point game when Manie Libbok missed a last minute kick in 2024, and he expects a fierce contest this weekend.
‘We know Argentina are a quality side. I think we learned our lessons the last time we played here. They’re a really physical, quality side. We took our lessons from that and we’ve prepared well,” he added.
Louw added that the maul was something the Boks had been working on using as an attacking weapon again in games, following adjustments to the way it was reffed.
"We are starting to see a lot of mauls in the different competitions," Louw explained. "It’s definitely an area that we continue to focus on, and we are definitely working hard on it."
But come Saturday Louw will remember the motivation and the determination that brought him to this point, and will be keen to make sure he makes a statement on the field.