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Francois Louw heading into his third World Cup more prepared than ever

Francois Louw of the Springboks. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Veteran Springbok flanker Francois Louw is preparing for the third World Cup in his career, having been apart of the 2011 and 2015 campaigns.

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For the 34-year-old loose forward now playing for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership, this will likely be his last chance to take home the William Webb Ellis trophy. Despite having all the World Cup experience in the world, the build-up to this one has been like no other.

“The preparation has been remarkably different for me,” Louw told media at a Wednesday press conference.

“I wasn’t initially involved in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup 2011 – I was a late inclusion in that side.

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“I joined the squad about two or three weeks prior to the guys leaving for New Zealand, whereas this time around, it has been a longer process. We’ve had our prep throughout the Championship and training weeks here and there.

“From a personal perspective, I am definitely more prepared, more in sync with what we are trying to achieve. We have put a lot of effort into our preparations for the various stages of the tournament.”

South Africa have had a resurgence under Rassie Erasmus, winning away in New Zealand last year for the first time since 2009 and drawing when they faced off again at the same venue in Wellington this year.

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When the Rugby World Cup draw was originally announced, things were very different with South Africa sliding down the world rankings under Allister Coetzee. Now after three intense games, the rivarly between the two nations is back and shapes a much-anticipated pool stage encounter.

“The draw was done a few years ago when our world ranking wasn’t in the best place.

“It’s our biggest rival and it’s an exciting challenge. We’ve had one go against them this year and it’s very different circumstances now at a World Cup.

“We will just take the moment as it comes, do the best we can, and hope to get the result we want.”

One of the battles for Louw will be the loose forward clash against openside flankers Sam Cane and Ardie Savea, who have been both used in the starting line-up to bolster New Zealand’s back row.

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“Should they both be on the pitch together we will have our hands full there.

“In terms of competing at every ruck, you make that assessment of which rucks to compete at. Blindly going into every ruck from a stealer or poacher’s perspective is not really the most effective way of playing the game.

“Both those guys will choose their rucks carefully. In terms of combating that, we will have to make sure our cleaners arrive nice and early, the ball carriers must put that extra fight in the tackle – extra movement on the ground or pumping through the point of contact.

“We want to make sure we give our halfbacks clean ball.”

Since Erasmus took over, eight of Louw’s 12 tests for South Africa over that time have been coming off the bench. It is a role that he is expecting to provide at the World Cup, where often the game is won or lost.

“There have been some interesting moments in the last 10 to 15 minutes, whether it’s about closing out the game or fighting to get some points.

“There is definitely a tactic in terms of finishing a game, whether it’s closing out or striking to get that victory. It is something we have grown in.”

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R
RedWarrior 25 minutes ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
G
GS 1 hour ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The key is realising this AB side is not what they are now but what they will be in 2025/26.


You can already see a Power bench forming, and I would highlight that people watch the AB XV game vs Munster and watch Fabian Holland - he, in the next 24 months, will be WC and bring some huge physicality to the team.


Then, aligned with Peter Lakai, probably at 7, another WC talent, the AB pack by 2026 will probably both be starting and on the bench - be rated as No 1 or 2 packs in the world.


Then, there is the usual WC talent around the backline, and the missing link is Mo'unga. Unlike in last year's WC, the coming forward pack for the ABs, is similar to the Bok pack, It will be packed full of power, and the key to this is a realitively young pack.


So I think we will lose to Ireland and France in the coming weeks, but watch out as this pack builds into - I mean, look at the tight five and loose forwards that are coming for the ABs - De Groot, Lomax, Williams, Tosi, Taylor, Ofa T, Samson T, Aumua, Patrick T, Barrett, Vai, Fabian H, Setiti, Lakai, Savea, Frizzell (understand they are attempting to get him and Mo'unga back), Blackadder, Papalii and bar Barrett, Savea, Patrick T, Taylor - pretty young in international terms.


Huge front row starting and on bench, Power locks and usual class in loose forwards - only missing ingredient is a WC 10 and with Mo'unga back probably in 2026, these ABs are trending in a very healthy direction.

89 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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