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Cape Town - Springbok flank Francois Louw says he was pleasantly surprised about his inclusion on Wednesday in the Springbok squad for their Australasian tour in the Rugby Championship.
Louw, who currently plies his trade with English club Bath, told Die Burger he though his move overseas might make it tough to crack a nod in Heyneke Meyer's Bok side.
"I didn't see this one coming. It's a big surprise," he said from England - where he first has to play a match for Bath this weekend before departing for Perth on Sunday.
"The selectors will obviously first select local talent and it worried me when I signed a deal with Bath. But I never gave up hope. It has always remained my aim and dream to play for the Boks again.
Louw, who's known for his ball-poaching capabilities, may have an important role to play against the Aussies and Kiwis, especially after the Boks struggled at the breakdown against Argentina.
However, he feels nowadays a loose forward must have more than just one weapon in his arsenal. "When people talk about openside flank, they usually refer to a specialist ball-poacher. But I don't think you can do only that in today’s game. You must also be able to carry the ball and play your part on attack," said Louw.
The 27-year-old has played 10 Tests since making his debut against Wales in Cardiff in 2010. His last Test was against Australia at last year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand - when the Boks were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The rest of the Springbok squad will travel to Perth on Saturday.
Springbok squad:
Backs:
Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Johan Goosen, Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak
Forwards:
Willem Alberts, Andries Bekker, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Juandré Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Francois Louw, Tendai Mtawarira, Jacques Potgieter, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen
Louw, who currently plies his trade with English club Bath, told Die Burger he though his move overseas might make it tough to crack a nod in Heyneke Meyer's Bok side.
"I didn't see this one coming. It's a big surprise," he said from England - where he first has to play a match for Bath this weekend before departing for Perth on Sunday.
"The selectors will obviously first select local talent and it worried me when I signed a deal with Bath. But I never gave up hope. It has always remained my aim and dream to play for the Boks again.
Louw, who's known for his ball-poaching capabilities, may have an important role to play against the Aussies and Kiwis, especially after the Boks struggled at the breakdown against Argentina.
However, he feels nowadays a loose forward must have more than just one weapon in his arsenal. "When people talk about openside flank, they usually refer to a specialist ball-poacher. But I don't think you can do only that in today’s game. You must also be able to carry the ball and play your part on attack," said Louw.
The 27-year-old has played 10 Tests since making his debut against Wales in Cardiff in 2010. His last Test was against Australia at last year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand - when the Boks were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The rest of the Springbok squad will travel to Perth on Saturday.
Springbok squad:
Backs:
Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Johan Goosen, Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak
Forwards:
Willem Alberts, Andries Bekker, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Juandré Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Francois Louw, Tendai Mtawarira, Jacques Potgieter, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen
