Wilco Louw backs Springbok scrum to bounce back against All Blacks
VIDEO: Springbok prop Wilco Louw believes South Africa’s powerful scrum will mean nothing unless the Boks start converting dominance into points when they face the All Blacks in Saturday’s second Test in Cape Town.
The Springboks controlled the scrum for much of the opening Test at Ellis Park but failed to capitalise on repeated opportunities inside New Zealand territory. The turning point came with the Boks trailing 16-19, when a scrum penalty went against them on their own feed in front of the All Blacks’ posts, allowing the visitors to seize momentum and pull away.
With South Africa now needing a win in Cape Town to keep the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series alive, Louw says the focus is on being ruthless when chances come.
“It’s very disappointing, but they used their opportunities well,” Louw said.
“We have a proud scrum culture and so do the All Blacks. We had our wins and they had theirs, but our scrum isn’t about one guy – it’s about the whole pack.”
*Continues below…
Louw praised the effort of the entire forward pack, including replacements Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Zach Porthen, who held firm in the scrum while the Springboks were reduced to 13 men.
“Credit to our forwards and credit to theirs. We really scrummed well. The guys who came on fought hard, even when we were down two players.”
The tighthead prop insists the Springboks have not lost faith despite the heavy defeat.
“It’s a four-match series and we get another opportunity this week,” he said.
“There’s still belief in this team. We know we can be better and we have to take our opportunities.”
For Louw, the lesson from Ellis Park is simple.
“The scrum is only one part of the game. We just need to use our opportunities better.”
*Continues below…
No complaints about the tempo
Louw also dismissed suggestions that the Springboks tried to slow the game down against New Zealand’s high-tempo style under Dave Rennie.
“We want to play an exciting brand of rugby,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s a nation that says they want to make the game slow. I thought it was well paced. It wasn’t too quick or too slow, and I don’t think anyone tried to do anything funny.”
‘Goosebumps’ facing the haka
Ahead of the Ellis Park Test, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus urged South African supporters to respect the haka rather than drown it out with noise. The crowd largely obliged, and Louw admitted hearing the haka in full was one of the highlights of his career.
“The goosebumps… it’s a massive honour standing in front of it and facing it,” he said.
“It’s something every kid dreams about when they dream of playing for the Springboks. It was a big honour.”
