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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – Traditionally one of the most heavily burdened Stormers players, last weekend’s bye came at an opportune time for Francois Louw, a key component of their “counter-grunt” quest in the huge Super Rugby derby against the Sharks on Saturday.
The 112kg Springbok flank, who is near-unique in his ability to double as a big-bodied fetcher and more blindside-type strong ball-carrier, will be among those in the home pack tasked with fighting fire with fire in what shapes as a high-stakes bone-cruncher at Newlands.
With the Sharks likely to throw legendarily forceful, direct loose forwards Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel at them either separately or even simultaneously in the top-of-conference encounter, Louw and similarly rugged allies Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen will need to be at the top of their games.
So Louw, in particular, was grateful for his little Easter holiday hiatus, when the Stormers were out of action for the first time in eight weeks.
“I definitely feel refreshed and recovered,” he enthused to Sport24 at a Bellville media briefing on Wednesday.
“Any week off is always great. We managed to get some time off over the long weekend which worked out quite nicely for (the squad); a chance to relax among family and friends.”
Although coach Allister Coetzee was never likely to rest any of his established loose trio firm for such an important fixture - and probably won’t have the luxury a week later against the Crusaders, either – he must be aware that at some point a player like Louw will probably have to sit out another game somewhere in the ordinary-season run-in.
Otherwise history may repeat itself with the No 7 experiencing some form out burnout, as almost certainly occurred last season when his mid-year form in a Bok jersey and also during the Currie Cup dipped (to his later detriment) after a murderous Super 14 campaign when the Stormers went all the way to the final.
Is he expecting to be subjected to “rotation” over the next few weeks?
“It’s always a difficult thing, when you can’t afford to lose any games or (shuffle) your own side too much against so-called weaker outfits.
You can always be in for a surprise in this competition, and if you lose with a weakened side then you’re suddenly falling down the log.
“We’ll have to see. As coach said, it’s important not to force players to play, and rest them if there are niggles. But most guys know what they are doing and how they’re (holding up).”
Louw is under no illusions about the urgency and physicality the Sharks, three points behind them in the conference and having played an extra game, will bring to the Mother City.
“It’s not a game to be taken lightly in any way. We know they’ll come at us full-blast and try to overpower us. It’s up to us to stand up and overpower them in return.”
Louw, for one, seems in a reasonably good space after a welcome, idle round, to put his money where his mouth is ...
Cape Town – Traditionally one of the most heavily burdened Stormers players, last weekend’s bye came at an opportune time for Francois Louw, a key component of their “counter-grunt” quest in the huge Super Rugby derby against the Sharks on Saturday.
The 112kg Springbok flank, who is near-unique in his ability to double as a big-bodied fetcher and more blindside-type strong ball-carrier, will be among those in the home pack tasked with fighting fire with fire in what shapes as a high-stakes bone-cruncher at Newlands.
With the Sharks likely to throw legendarily forceful, direct loose forwards Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel at them either separately or even simultaneously in the top-of-conference encounter, Louw and similarly rugged allies Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen will need to be at the top of their games.
So Louw, in particular, was grateful for his little Easter holiday hiatus, when the Stormers were out of action for the first time in eight weeks.
“I definitely feel refreshed and recovered,” he enthused to Sport24 at a Bellville media briefing on Wednesday.
“Any week off is always great. We managed to get some time off over the long weekend which worked out quite nicely for (the squad); a chance to relax among family and friends.”
Although coach Allister Coetzee was never likely to rest any of his established loose trio firm for such an important fixture - and probably won’t have the luxury a week later against the Crusaders, either – he must be aware that at some point a player like Louw will probably have to sit out another game somewhere in the ordinary-season run-in.
Otherwise history may repeat itself with the No 7 experiencing some form out burnout, as almost certainly occurred last season when his mid-year form in a Bok jersey and also during the Currie Cup dipped (to his later detriment) after a murderous Super 14 campaign when the Stormers went all the way to the final.
Is he expecting to be subjected to “rotation” over the next few weeks?
“It’s always a difficult thing, when you can’t afford to lose any games or (shuffle) your own side too much against so-called weaker outfits.
You can always be in for a surprise in this competition, and if you lose with a weakened side then you’re suddenly falling down the log.
“We’ll have to see. As coach said, it’s important not to force players to play, and rest them if there are niggles. But most guys know what they are doing and how they’re (holding up).”
Louw is under no illusions about the urgency and physicality the Sharks, three points behind them in the conference and having played an extra game, will bring to the Mother City.
“It’s not a game to be taken lightly in any way. We know they’ll come at us full-blast and try to overpower us. It’s up to us to stand up and overpower them in return.”
Louw, for one, seems in a reasonably good space after a welcome, idle round, to put his money where his mouth is ...
