Cape Town - Wilco Louw will be an asset to the Springboks, Western Province coach John Dobson believes.
The Western Province tighthead prop was called up to the Springbok squad in New Zealand as replacement for Coenie Oosthuizen, who broke his arm in last Saturday’s 23-all draw with Australia in Perth.
The 23-year-old Louw has been a vital player for WP in this year’s Currie Cup and also scored a try in their 57-14 win over Free State last Saturday.
“When it comes to scrummaging, I have no doubt that Wilco will make the grade,” Dobson told Netwerk24. “The challenge for him will be his mobility. He was very good with that for the Stormers in Super Rugby, but was then hampered by a knee injury. If he can get that right, then he’ll become a top Test prop.”
Dobson feels Louw is displaying maturity beyond his years.
“We always talk about tightheads only reaching maturity at about 28 or 29. Wilco is only 23 and earlier this season kept Frans Malherbe out of the Stormers’ starting team.”