Springboks latest: Rassie Erasmus bolsters pack as Bulls ace joins squad
Elrigh Louw (left) has been added to the Springboks squad for the Nations Championship
The Springboks have further bolstered their pack for the Nations Championship, with Elrigh Louw linking up with the squad with immediate effect.
Louw’s addition comes with the Boks losing Riley Norton to injury, while Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager are also out of action.
With Rassie Erasmus already confirming his 23-man squad to face England on Saturday, Louw will not be available for the Test at Ellis Park, but comes into contention for their meetings with both Scotland and Wales later in the month.
Elrigh Louw joins Boks squad amid latest forward injury
Louw last donned the Green and Gold jersey back in 2024 in a win over Wales, but missed the bulk of last Test season through a knee injury.
He did, however, make a comeback for the Bulls in the URC, making 18 appearances in all competitions and later started in their final defeat to Leinster. He was also involved in the Springboks alignment camps earlier this year.
The back-rower has tallied 13 Test caps for his country at the time of writing, and helped the Boks win the 2024 Rugby Championship.
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He is also not the only fresh face joining up with the Springboks squad for the remainder of the Nations Championship, with Ethan Hooker also making his return from a shoulder injury.
Where does Louw fit into the Boks’ plans?
Louw might be a replacement for utility man Norton, but will likely act as an out-and-out flank option ahead of the Boks’ meetings with Scotland and Wales.
If that is the case, he joins a strong contingent alongside captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon and Marco van Staden, while Cameron Hanekom and the aforementioned Mostert can also shift over to the flanks if required.
But, he might also be viewed as a utility option, which is the role Norton was expected to play. Louw is no stranger to lock, featuring there for the Junior Boks back in 2019, and has been used in that ‘number 19’ role for the Boks in his Test career too.
Erasmus has already shown he is keen to experiment with players in different positions, even ahead of their meeting with England this weekend as well, and with the issues they are having at lock, it could be a chance to test him out here.
