Injured Louw has Coetzee thinking

THE Springboks’ will go into their November tour to Britain and Italy without one of their most senior and influential forwards.

Openside flank Francois Louw has been ruled out for 10 weeks according to his English club side Bath.

The 31-year-old Louw‚ who has played 52 Tests for the Boks‚ sustained a hamstring injury early in the final Rugby Championship match of the 2016 campaign against the All Blacks in Durban earlier this month.

The veteran flank returned for club duty but after medical assessments was ruled out for close to three months.

“He’s picked up a hamstring injury tackling for the ball‚” Bath first-team coach Darren Edwards told the BBC.

“It certainly has an impact on our numbers.

“With [Wales international] Taulupe Faletau out as well in a similar situation‚ that’s a world-class backrow that’s not in our team at the moment.”

Coach Allister Coetzee will name his Bok touring party after Saturday’s Currie Cup final and there will be a lot of head-scratching about a replacement for Louw.

Jaco Kriel has not impressed in his brief Test appearances and so Coetzee might be forced to have a wider look at candidates for the crucial position.

The 30-year-old Heinrich Brüssow is an option.

He has been playing for the Docomo Red Hurricanes in Japan and would be a worthy replacement given his unique ability to pilfer ball.

Brüssow has played 22 Tests for the Boks and is still regarded as a superb poacher. — TMG Digital