Elrigh Louw not putting the cart before the Bulls as he talks Bok selection

By Doug Mattushek
16th May 2024

Bulls hardman Elrigh Louw has Springbok aspirations but admitted he has to focus on the task at hand at his beloved Bulls, for now

Louw represented the Junior Boks at the U20 Rugby World Cup in 2019 and then his efforts at the Bulls primed him for his Bok debut against Wales in 2022 at Loftus Versveld.

The Pretoria native earned just one more international cap later that year. However, Louw was included in the first Springbok alignment camp of 2024, an indication that he is in the mix for the green and gold.

Speaking to rugby365.com, Louw revealed that if he puts his head down at the Bulls, the rest will take care of itself.

"It's definitely a goal of mine to play more Springbok Tests," said the 24-year-old.

"However, I'm focusing on performing well in the Bulls jersey at the moment, and doing what I can and controlling what I can.

"If I play well in the Bulls jersey then it's meant to be if I get a call-up to play more Test rugby."

The back-rower has been a workhorse in the engine room for the Bulls, missing just two out of the 16 rounds of the United Rugby Championship thus far. Louw has played the full 80 minutes in most of them and scooped seven tries for his efforts.

The Bulls face Benneton in the penultimate round of the URC on Saturday afternoon. Fresh off a last-gasp victory over a Bok-laden Sharks outfit in Durban, Louw is under no illusions as to the challenge ahead.

In addition, the Bulls have a bit of a score to settle with the Italians. In 2021, the Bulls went down 35-8 in the final of the Rainbow Cup in Treviso.

"They are a quality team with a lot of internationals, and if you look at how Italy's rugby is going at the moment, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with and not to take lightly," said Louw.

"You shouldn't look at teams differently, and we prepare like we always would. But [the 2021 Final] still hurts, and the guys are sour and probably will always be sour over that loss in Italy.

"At the end of the day we have a job to do this weekend, and hopefully we get five points."