There are few people better qualified to talk about the British and Irish Lions series against South Africa than Francois Louw.
The Springboks have only played three matches since he won the last of his 76 caps, in the 2019 World Cup Final. And he played at Bath in the Premiership for years until his retirement during the pandemic.
“I played against half the Lions guys for much of my career,” he tells Standard Sport. “Tom Curry has been my opponent for most of his life. And obviously the likes of Taulupe Faletau and Anthony Watson are great friends and team-mates.”
Louw is focusing a little more on the Springboks, however. He believes that Jasper Wiese, who made his first start (and won his second cap) for South Africa at No8 on Saturday, and has been retained again this week, can fill the boots of the totemic Duane Vermeulen, who is not quite ready to return to the team.
“A guy I really have my eye on emerged out of the UK,” he says. “Jasper Wiese has been playing for Leicester, getting his shot at No8. He is a big boy, a big ball-carrier.
“Without Duane Vermeulen, a stalwart of South African rugby, not just from a playing perspective, he has a massive presence on the field, but in leadership as well.
“Someone like Wiese can potentially play a similar game – he’s a big ball-carrier, he makes yards. You need momentum in crucial moments in the game, and you give it to the big boy, and he’s going to get you over that line. I’m super excited to see him get a run around.”
Louw believes Wiese will thrive because of the experience around him. He has seasoned Test stars on the flanks in Siya Kolisi and Franco Mostert, and experience at lock, too.
“The skill of coaching is at what stage you bring guys in, and how many guys to bring in simultaneously,” he says.
“You can’t just blood a team with five or six new players. You have to find that balance. With those sorts of leaders around him, and even in the second row, those guys with Eben Etzebeth having played 80 or 90 Tests, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, I think he is in good hands.”
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