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Cape Town - Former Springbok captain and flank Corne Krige says Francois Louw should not be discarded despite a below-par performance against Argentina in Mendoza.
Krige spoke to Netwerk24 on Monday when he urged Bok fans to keep the faith despite a demoralising 32-19 defeat to Los Pumas at the weekend.
Krige, who like Louw featured in the No 6 jersey, told the Afrikaans publication that Louw could still add value to the Bok cause.
“You can’t buy experience and there are a number of young flankers in the Bok squad," Krige said.
The 33-year-old Louw, who plays for Bath in England, looked off the pace and struggled to impose himself at the breakdown.
But Krige, who played 39 Tests and captained the Boks at the 2003 Rugby World Cup added: “Form is temporary, while class is permanent. We have the tendency in South Africa to want to throw guys away once they get a bit old."
The Springbok loose trio of Louw, captain Siya Kolisi and No 8 Warren Whiteley struggled to impose themselves physically in Mendoza over the weekend.
And there were talks on Sunday that Duane Vermeulen could return to boost the team for the Test against the All Blacks in Wellington on September 15.
Sunday newspaper Rapport revealed that Vermeulen's Japanese club side, the Kubota Spears, would not refuse a formal request from SA Rugby for the club to release Vermeulen for the Test. This is despite the fact that the Spears, coached by Frans Ludeke, had hoped that Vermeulen would play in all seven of their most important league matches.
The initial arrangement between Vermeulen and SA Rugby was that he would miss the Rugby Championship because of his contractual obligations to the Spears. He was meant to only be considered again for the European tour at the end of the year.
But Erasmus' plans recently changed owing to, among other factors, injuries to loose forwards Cyle Brink and Jean-Luc du Preez.
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