Bulls will be ready for ‘top-class’ Munster, says Elrigh Louw

After beginning their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign with four matches on tour in Ireland, Wales and Scotland, the Bulls are eager to face their European opponents in their own backyard, and a tough Munster side will be the first to visit their Loftus Versfeld fortress on Saturday.

A thrilling encounter is expected, and Bulls No 8 Elrigh Louw has been keeping a close eye on the visiting Irish side that has claimed four wins out of five games so far in their campaign.

“I rate them quite highly. They are a top-class side, and with a coaching staff like they have, you can never underestimate them,” Louw said.

“I think they will bring a good kicking game, and a very good game on the ground, in the rucks. But we also have our own plans, and we are not focusing on them more than we are focusing on our own game.”

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Following his arrival at the Bulls at the end of 2020, Louw has given some consistent, stellar performances for the side, placing him among the list of young players expected to don the green and gold of the Springboks one day.

The versatile loose-forward indicated that his focus was on ensuring he remained in good physical shape and contributed to the Bulls’ cause before his career was catapulted to the next level – international rugby, a dream that remains for him.

“Personally, I’m feeling very good, I’m in good shape. We have been working hard on our individual skills and sharpening up over the past few weeks, and I think the team will be a lot sharper now that we all know what’s coming,” Louw said.

“I think every day, for the rest of my career, I will always have ambitions of playing for the Springboks. I will never throw that ambition and dream of mine out of the window, no matter how long it takes.”

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Talk ahead of this weekend’s clash suggested the Bulls had a point to prove, in an attempt to stamp their authority as one of the front-runners among the South African contingent in the URC. This follows their dominance in recent domestic competitions.

However, the 22-year-old Louw downplayed suggestions that the Tshwane-based side had anything to prove.

“We wouldn’t say we have a point to prove. I think we just owe ourselves a good performance. We just need to show what we can do here at Loftus,” he said.

“We are now back at Loftus, our fortress, so it’s going to be a good game.”

The match between the Bulls and Munster will kick off at 7.45pm on Saturday.