Springbok loose forward Elrigh Louw says the Vodacom Bulls are taking no half-measures in their pursuit of European glory, firmly brushing aside any suggestion that South African franchises view the Investec Champions Cup as a secondary concern.
Speaking after a rigorous training session in the Pretoria heat, Louw made it clear that the squad’s ambitions are non-negotiable as they prepare to launch another campaign among Europe’s elite.
“I think we let it slip last season at home,” Louw said. “So definitely we want to win all the games at home, and then make a statement overseas. There’s a lot of perception about this competition and the South African sides, but we take it as seriously as any other team, and we want to win it. That’s definitely our mindset.”
The shift in tournament scheduling to October works heavily in favour of the South African set-up, allowing teams to field their full contingent of international stars rather than navigating mandatory player rest periods mid-campaign.
“It’s definitely beneficial to have your Springboks playing for your team,” Louw noted.
That experience will be vital against Stade Francais this weekend, where the physical demands are compounded by high temperatures and altitude.
“French teams always have a big, heavy forward pack that relies a lot on scrums, mauls, and set-piece, so that’s a massive battle for us,” Louw explained. “And then there’s a lot of flair in the backline. It’s a tough battle up front and a lot of flair coming from the backs.”
When asked about the deciding factor in these high-stakes encounters, Louw was blunt.
“Discipline will be massive. We saw in the past couple of games that discipline gets you in a lot of trouble. French teams are formidable when they come into the 22, and the way they get into the 22 is via penalties.”
Despite the growing narrative surrounding high-profile matches between French and South African heavyweights, Louw dismissed any talk of emotional rivalries.
“We take it game for game. We don’t think about rivalries. We play the team that comes to Loftus or we go to the team where we go. Whether it’s Vodacom URC or Investec Champions Cup, we take a lot of momentum out of the Lions game and a lot of confidence, but we just focus on the next opposition.”
Law change hits home
The press conference took a poignant turn when the discussion shifted to World Rugby’s upcoming law change targeting the drop-down tackle, set to take effect in November. The technique, which has caused high-profile injuries across international rugby in recent weeks, was the exact action that previously sidelined Louw with a catastrophic injury.
“It does hit me quite personally,” Louw admitted quietly. “I think they’ve implemented that rule in a few different sports, like the NFL where it’s against the law, so I think it’s a great adjustment to rugby. We saw it again last weekend with an ankle injury [in Bledisloe Cup] from a drop tackle. For future player safety, I’m very happy that they changed the law.”
Reflecting on his own arduous journey back to match fitness and his return to the Springbok set-up, Louw acknowledged the mental hurdles he had to overcome.
“The injury is in the past now, but to get back into the set-up after the injury was almost as good as the first time I played for the Boks. It was tough, mentally, for me to get back. Some people just get back and play to the best of their ability, but I had to work hard to get back some of my form. I don’t think I’m there yet, to be honest, but just to get an opportunity to be in the Springbok set-up again was massive for me.”
As he builds toward his physical peak, the back-row powerhouse noted that his personal drive has evolved significantly over time.
“When you’re younger, you play more for yourself and your dreams,” Louw reflected. “As you get older, you see that playing for the team raises everybody up, including yourself. I’m much more team-focused now, and I just want to get back to the form I was in before the injury.”
