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Bok flank Louw hits top form

Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will be pleased to hear that flank Francois Louw is hitting top form after an injury layoff.

Louw missed the latter parts of international season after injuring his neck in a Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Wellington on September 13.

He underwent neck surgery and missed the Springboks' home leg in the Rugby Championship as well as their year-end tour to Europe.

But the 29-year-old has since regained fitness and made his return to action for his English club, Bath, in a European Champions Cup clash against Montpellier earlier this month.

Louw shrugged off the injury remarkably well and was back to his best this past weekend when Bath humbled Gloucester 39-16 in the Aviva Premiership.

The Springbok produced a stellar performance as Bath out-muscled their West Country rivals at Kingsholm to romp to a sixth straight win in all competitions. The Springbok was rewarded with the man-of-the-match accolade afterwards.

Bath currently occupy second spot on the Premiership standings with eight wins from 10 matches, trailing leaders Northampton Saints by two points.

Louw's return will no doubt please the Springbok coach.

The fetcher flank's absence on the Boks' recent year-end tour to Europe was evident to see as the South Africans struggled on the ground.

The Boks beat England and Italy on tour, but lost two of their four matches - to Ireland in Dublin and Wales in Cardiff.

Louw will be key to Meyer's World Cup plans next year...
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