Ton-up Louw hopes to do a number on Sarries
BATH are challenging strongly for a return to the Premiership play-offs and Francois Louw has urged his teammates not to let such an opportunity slip from their grasp ahead of the trip to Saracens.
The West Country outfit reached the 2015 final but slumped to ninth last season, leading to the sacking of Mike Ford.
Todd Blackadder took over only late in the summer but it has not stopped Bath making huge advances and, with five rounds to go, they now sit in fifth place.
With a host of internationals, including No.8s Taulupe Faletau and Billy Vunipola, returning, Louw is expecting a heavyweight clash at Allianz Park as Bath look to put their 24-3 home defeat to Wasps behind them.
“We started the season really strongly and put ourselves in a comfortable position, but we’ve veered off a bit since then,” he said. “It’s in our hands in the final five games to get that play-off spot. It’s something we really want, and it’s something we are aiming for.
“It is going to be a big match considering both sides get all their internationals back. That is going to raise the tempo that much more.
“Billy Vunipola made a big difference coming back towards the end of the Six Nations. Saracens will rely on him to get momentum both in attack and defence – he’s a key player for them so it will be in our interest to stop him where we can.
“They’ve got a couple of key players but at no stage is the focus on them, the focus is on us to perform.”
On celebrating his 100th appearance for the club, Louw added: “I never thought I’d get all that way after my first game over here and it’s very exciting and humbling to be part of a club like this for 100 games.
“I’ve re-signed twice since I arrived and those have been straightforward decisions considering the way we’ve evolved as a side and an organisation.”