Bok star back in the mix as Bulls gear up for Glasgow clash
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls received a timely boost ahead of their United Rugby Championship semifinal against Glasgow Warriors, with Springbok tighthead prop Wilco Louw expected to travel with the squad to Scotland after missing the quarterfinal victory over Munster due to bronchitis.
Louw was a late withdrawal from the Bulls side that dismantled Munster 45-14 at Loftus Versfeld, but indications are that the powerful front-rower will be part of Johan Ackermann’s squad that will depart for Scotland on Tuesday evening.
His return could prove pivotal as the Bulls prepare for another heavyweight battle with a Glasgow side they know all too well.
While much attention will focus on Glasgow’s dangerous attacking game, the Bulls have traditionally enjoyed an edge in one crucial area whenever the teams have met: the scrum.
Louw’s comeback will also renew his physical duel with Glasgow prop Patrick Schickerling, the Namibian-born front-rower who has become a key figure in Franco Smith’s pack.
The pair have already shared several bruising encounters in the URC, most notably at Scotstoun in April 2025 when the Bulls claimed a memorable 26-19 victory. On that occasion, Louw spearheaded a dominant Bulls scrum performance that repeatedly put Glasgow under pressure.
That match also featured a flashpoint involving the two props when Louw received a yellow card for a high tackle on Schickerling, allowing Glasgow to claw their way back into the contest.
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Even after Louw’s departure from the pitch, the Bulls’ pack remained in control, using their scrum and maul to dictate terms and secure a rare victory on Scottish soil.
The Pretoria outfit will be hoping for more of the same this weekend.
Over the weekend, the Bulls overwhelmed Munster at the set piece without Louw in the mix, laying the platform for their six tries.
With Louw back in the mix alongside fellow Springboks Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Johan Grobbelaar, the visitors will again look to impose themselves physically on a Glasgow side renowned for its pace, skill and attack.
The Warriors have already shown they can handle Bulls pressure. Two years ago, they stunned Loftus Versfeld by beating the Bulls 21-16 in the 2024 URC Final to lift the title.
More recently, Glasgow edged the Bulls 25-21 at Scotstoun in a tightly contested league encounter earlier this season, capitalising on a handful of errors to secure victory.
The semifinal will be the third meeting between the teams in just over a year and promises to be another fascinating clash of styles.
