Louw's form a key indicator for Bulls

The return to form of Springbok loose forward Elrigh Louw in recent weeks has been a massive boost for the Vodacom Bulls as they look to cement their place in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs.

Louw was incredible last weekend in the 78-point walloping of Italian side Zebre as he dominated the contact point and had an impressive 17 carries during the game, by far the most of any player in the competition thus far.

And to add to that his season totals are also not too bad. Louw has the most “contact metres” - 216 in the tournament this season, showing his strength and how he takes the ball forward even though opposition players try to stop him.

It has been this resurgence that has helped the Bulls find their form again after a period midway in the season where they struggled and where at one stage it seemed as if they may miss out on the playoffs altogether.

Now with one final match against Leinster this weekend at Loftus Versfeld, they are building up a head of steam that could carry them in the playoffs when they really need it.

While the Bulls have at times been their own worst enemies and have created chances, but not always taken them, they are still the side that, after log leaders Leinster and Ulster - the top two sides in the competition, have scored the third most tries this season.

The fact they have lost a number of games by close margins shows how much impact losing defensive coach Joey Mongalo has meant to them, and how they will need to address this in the next season.

Still, their scoring rate of an average of 4.1 tries per game was helped significantly by the 11 tries they scored on the weekend against Zebre and if they can carry this forward into the playoffs they will be dangerous opposition indeed.

And Louw’s recent form is a good sign - especially as for a long time it seemed as if the big loose trio that the Bulls have - including Springbok Marco van Staden and Cyle Brink, were all a bit similar in the way they carry the ball forward. All are direct players who don’t shirk contact and while the Bulls don’t have someone with the calibre of say, a Hacjivah Dayimani or Francke Horn running in the wide channels, their direct approach has worked for them so far.

Louw is their key man when taking the ball up, something that is seen in the season totals as he lies third behind Edinburgh’s Viliami Mata and Scarlets Sione Kalamafoni - both big ball carries in their own rights.

He also sits fourth behind the same two big ball carriers and Munster’s Gavin Coombes when it comes to Gain Line Carries - on 89 for the season.

The biggest thing for the Bulls is that Louw embodies their pack’s mentality and while at one point in the season it felt like he was fighting a lone battle, the last few weeks has seen an increased focus and determination that has seeped into his teammates as well.

And at the business end of the rugby season, that can’t be a bad thing for the Bulls.