Louw underlines importance of Durban clash

Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship showdown in Durban is turning out to be a massive match, and anyone who thinks the Vodacom Bulls are going down to the coast to simply make up the numbers is mistaken.

Bulls and Springbok flanker Elrigh Louw put that firmly to bed as he underlined the importance of the match for the third-placed Bulls, who know the Hollywoodbets Sharks are intent on loading their side with the Springboks to target a victory.

Louw didn’t mince his words, underlining the importance of the game.

“This is a massive game for us, especially with it being a South African derby and coming off a loss. There is a lot of pressure and the guys know what has to be done,” he told media on a Zoom call.

“It’s really important, psychologically, to get a win before we go on a break and start the new year. It isn’t difficult to find motivation ahead of this weekend’s game.”

Louw also pointed to his coach Jake White’s comments after the loss against Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup, where White said he would talk less, paste a photo of the Springboks on the team changeroom wall and tell his players they were facing the Boks this weekend.

“I think we really, for ourselves, need to put up a good performance this weekend before we go into our break. So no, I don't think Jake needs to say a lot,” Louw candidly said.

OWN WORST ENEMIES

The fact that the Bulls were their own worst enemies against Northampton Saints, Louw said that the team needed to see it as a “learning opportunity”.

“We have to take games like last week against Northampton Saints as a learning opportunity. I don’t think we were switched on for the full 80 minutes.”

But the Bulls flank knows the danger that the Sharks pose and believes his team will have to be a lot better this weekend if they are to get the victory away from home.

“The Sharks are a group of very skillful and talented players, from No 1 to 15. They love the game when it gets loose. They are going to want turnovers. We expect lots of kicking and contestable kicks from their No 9, and for them to target the set piece with the great players they have in the pack.”

Despite the fact that many of the players in the Sharks are those that Louw considers friends at national level, that means nothing when they get on the field.

“No, I think between the two lines, the only friends you have are the friends that are on the team. Obviously, we've got a lot of respect for them, but I think from their side as well, you can't be friends while a match is underway.

“This year the Sharks are really gelling as a team. Last season it was a bit up and down, and things weren’t going their way, but then they went and won the Challenge Cup and this year it looks like things are great for them at the moment.”

The Bulls will name their side for the clash on Friday.