Latest news with #Louw
IOL News
10 hours ago
- General
- IOL News
Wilco Louw anticipates scrum showdown with Sharks' Springbok front row
Wilco Louw Bulls tighthead prop Wilco Louw (right) is known for his scrummaging, but hopes to put in an allround performance, especially on defence, in the URC semi-finals against the Sharks on Saturday. Image: AFP While Wilco Louw didn't want to make Saturday's scrum duel with Ox Nche a two-man battle, the Bulls' hardman is eager to test himself against the front row of the Sharks in a high-stakes clash. Loftus Versfeld (6.15pm kick-off) will host the second semi-final of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and while the match is already a high-profile one, the scrum battle between the two sides could enhance the clash. Two Springbok front rows will go up against each other in all likelihood with Louw leading the Bulls' onslaught alongside young Boks hooker Johan Grobbelaar and loosehead prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels. On the side of the Sharks, it's a veteran front-row with Nche, and double World Cup winners Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) and Vincent Koch (tighthead) probably waiting on the Bulls. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to Louw, who on Wednesday was selected in the URC Elite XV of the season, they are putting in the work to halt the Sharks' scrum come Saturday. 'Against Munster, they had incredible scrums all the way through the entire 100 minutes. In the second half, especially, they dominated,' Louw said. 'However, it won't just be me against them. It will be the Bulls against the Sharks and importantly, we must play as a unit and scrum together as a pack. We should not try to be too individualistic. We must draw strength from the team. 'It is a massive privilege being able to measure yourself against the best in the world. Ox, Bongi and Vincent have won some World Cups. "This weekend I scrummed against Pierre Schoeman who was selected for the British and Irish Lions. It's nice to go up against them because it is never easy.' Louw aims to contribute beyond just scrummaging. He is looking forward to putting his head into the rucks to clean the Sharks' poachers at the breakdown. "He wants to contribute with the ball in hand on the attack. There is also the prospect to put some hard hits on the ball carriers of the visiting side. Wilco Louw with those rugby smarts. — Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) March 25, 2025
The Star
11 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Wilco Louw focused on Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory in honour of Cornal Hendricks
While it will come as a huge feather in his cap to be nominated as Player of the Season, there's no time to celebrate just yet for Bulls prop Wilco Louw ahead of his side's United Rugby Championship semi-final this weekend. The Bulls will host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday in the second semi-final. Kick-off is at 6.15pm. Should Leinster lose their semi to Glasgow earlier in the day, it will mean the final will be hosted in South Africa for the fourth year in a row. As Louw reflected on his nomination, it was revealing how he avoided personally taking credit for his achievement. "It is a massive honour to be nominated for Player of the Season. But rugby is a team sport, and without the rest of the team, the brilliant players I play with — none of this would have been possible. It's the guys who pack in the scrums, who clean when you carry. It's a team effort,' Louw told The Bulls had to come through a gruelling quarter-final against Edinburgh Rugby at Loftus to book their ticket in the last four. It was an especially significant feat, since the Bulls had lost to the same opposition earlier in their campaign. "They were not an easy opposition; they are a well-coached team. They got good dominance in the scrum the first time we faced them, and we remembered that. We also lost to them in the Challenge Cup playoffs, which was tough. So, we knew exactly what they'd bring on Saturday.' With former Bulls star Cornal Hendricks dying suddenly last month at the age of 37, going all the way in the competition this year would be an especially poignant milestone, Louw revealed. "Cornal was a happy guy, always positive and full of good energy. He was a fantastic rugby player but an even better human being. 'Hopefully, we can finish the season strong for him and his family. It would be a cherry on top if we could do it for Cornal and not just for rugby, but because of the way he lived life with enthusiasm and joy." @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Bulls prop Louw relishes scrumming against Sharks' Bok front row men
Star tighthead Wilco Louw looks forward to clashing against fellow boks Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch. Nominee for the South African URC player of the season, Bulls tighthead prop Wilco Louw, said he looks forward to testing his mettle against the best the Sharks have to offer, who are also all Springboks. Louw, a 16-cap Springbok in his own right, praised the Sharks forward pack of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch for what they have achieved this season. He said the forward row and their replacements (Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchumu and Hanro Jacobs) had especially put in a good performance against Munster in their quarter-final on the weekend. But when they line up against the Bulls pack in the United Rugby Championship semi-final at Loftus this Saturday (kick-off 6.15pm), Louw will be out to dominate his national teammates. Louw praises Sharks scrum 'In the Munster game, they had incredible scrums all the way through the whole 100 minutes. In the second half, especially, they had a lot of dominance,' Louw said. 'Our focus is fully on the Sharks, they are not an easy team to play against. They've got an all-round good kicking game, an incredible scrum, good mauls… We are not looking any further than Saturday. Whatever happens afterwards, happens.' Still, he said the 'Champions Wall' in the Bulls changeroom serves as inspiration for the side to go a step further. Should they beat the Sharks, they will take on the winners between Leinster and Glasgow Warriors – who play their semi-final at Aviva Stadium in Ireland earlier in the day (3.45pm). It would be the Bulls' third final, though they have yet to take the trophy. 'You see the rich history of the Bulls. There are lots of cups they've won, so we want to live up to that,' the prop reflected on their three Super Rugby and 27 Currie Cup wins. 'Through the history of the Bulls, there have always been successful teams. That is why we do what we do. We do it for a bigger purpose than just ourselves. We do it for an incredible union and we do it for our families.' Bulls set-piece strength could be the difference Contemplating their quarter-final win against Edinburgh, Louw said the Bulls had weathered the storm that saw them 21–8 behind at one point to gain dominance as the game progressed. They especially found momentum in the scrum in the second half, a set-piece the Bulls have not truly lost against anyone yet this season. 'On Saturday in the first half the scrums were a bit scrappy. Then we had to shift our focus to something to get our momentum back. When momentum comes it's a bonus. This weekend against the Sharks it's going to be a tough battle.'
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Jake White backs Wilco Louw to be SA's URC player of the year
The Bulls coach said he favours his tighthead prop to win the honours after dominating scrums and demoralising opponents in the set-piece. Bulls prop Wilco Louw is one of three players nominated for the SA URC Player of the Year Award. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images Without snubbing his star No 8, Cameron Hanekom, who has also been nominated, Bulls coach Jake White hopes his front-row man Wilco Louw wins this year's South African URC Player of the Season award. The Pretoria pair are joined by Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as the three players nominated for United Rugby Championship honours after votes from the four franchises and members of the media closed last week. The winner will be announced next Thursday as part of the annual URC Awards. While White has previously said the Bulls could not be known only for their forward strength, it was their scrums and mauls that have led to their dominance this URC season, driving their second-place finish in the league phase and being directly responsible for their history-making tour in Europe. It was also their scrum turnover that led to a last-minute match-winning penalty kick that ended Leinster's 12-game winning streak. Louw only played 52 minutes in that match and was not there at the death, but his example has spearheaded the Bulls' success in the set-piece. Bulls coach sings Louw's praises White sang Louw's praises during a field session as the Bulls prepare for their quarter-final against Edinburgh on Saturday (kick-off 1.30pm). 'I'm obviously biased, but I just think that what he's done for our team just by putting him there has allowed us to play the way we do,' the Bulls coach said. 'When did you ever get a tighthead prop who's been nominated for a prize in South Africa. I genuinely hope that he wins it because everyone spoke about what the premium is on tightheads. 'You look at the Stormers when they dominated this competition. They had [Frans] Malherbe and Steven [Kitshoff] and it just showed the value of having those kinds of players in your front row.' White said Hanekom and Feinberg-Mngomezulu had played very well. But Louw stood out in set-piece dominance, which controlled games. 'I think anyone who understands rugby… Doc Craven always said, when they asked him, 'What is the most important position on the field?' He said tighthead prop. When they asked him the second-most important, he said the reserve tighthead prop.' Louw controls momentum, demoralises opponents Louw only has one try to his name across his 15 URC and four Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures this season. He has also never scored a try in 16 Tests for the Springboks. But that means nothing after winning possession and penalties with set-piece dominance, and demoralising opposition. 'It just again stresses the importance of having a tighthead prop that can even be nominated,' White added. 'I remember in my time, Os du Randt was nominated rugby player of the year. But I can't remember too many rugby props being on shortlists for any players of the tournament.'
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Discovering the real you: 'Die Dekonstruksie van Retta Blom' explores life beyond the surface
Antoinette Louw and Hilda Cronje in "Die Dekonstruksie van Retta Blom". Image: Supplied. In the heart of South Africa's vibrant film landscape emerges a poignant story that delves into layers of identity, self-discovery and resilience. "Die Dekonstruksie van Retta Blom", adapted from Zelda Bezuidenhout's beloved novel of the same name, invites viewers to share in Retta Blom's journey. The film charts the life of Blom, masterfully played by Antoinette Louw, who appears to have the perfect life, an adoring husband, a young son and a charming home nestled in a leafy Johannesburg suburb. However, as her meticulous nature begins to expose cracks beneath the surface of her relationships, she embarks on a journey through doubt and introspection, leading her to question the realities of her marriage to Tobias, portrayed by Francois Coertze. 'Retta is a middle-aged woman going through menopause,' Louw shares during a conversation with "Independent Media Lifestyle". 'She has always lived her life according to society's rules of what a good woman should be, but now she's on a journey to discover who she really is and confronts her fears of societal judgment.' Louw highlights that while this is an Afrikaans film, its themes resonate universally, tapping into the deep-seated anxieties of maintaining authenticity in a world that often pressures conformity. What sets "Die Dekonstruksie van Retta Blom" apart is not only its exploration of relationships but it is also focuses on the experiences of women aged 50 and above, a demographic often overlooked in contemporary cinema. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ A scene from the movie "Die Dekonstruksie van Retta Blom". Image: Supplied. "The reality is that we live in an ageist society and there aren't a lot of female roles for actresses from the age of 50 and that is so sad because that is when we really come into our own ... I absolutely jumped at the opportunity to be part of a story that tells a story of women in this age group. "We go through a huge rebirthing process; we are not young women anymore, but we are also not old, we are somewhere in between, and those stories haven't been explored yet." The film's production was no walk in the park, as Louw described a gruelling yet rewarding filming process. "The filming process was gruelling, but the beautiful thing is that in those five or six weeks we worked so intensely together and we held space for each other because it's that connection with each other that holds us together. "We were all so exhausted, but it was so amazing to work with Pieter (Grobbelaar) because this is his passion project and a dream of his that's come true. He's always wanted to make a film, and it's such a privilege to be part of somebody's dream." Louw's commitment to her role is profound: "My process for every role is the same, I am like an investigator. I take the script and I look especially for the things that aren't said, for the subtext and I go to great lengths to take good care of myself, eating healthy, meditation, and just show up the best that I can and to honour the story, because the story is always bigger than the actor." Even as questions about the glamour of Hollywood linger, Louw remains steadfast in her belief that South Africa is ripe with stories that echo truths that are universally understood. "People always ask me, 'Antoinette, why didn't you go to Hollywood?' As if Hollywood is the epitome of success, it's not. "We live in such an incredible country with so many stories to tell and it's through storytelling since the beginning of humanity that we connect, impart wisdom, understand each other a bit better, and it's so amazing that we can explore our own stories and we can be so proudly South African." Grobbelaar expresses enthusiasm about showcasing this layered narrative that traverses the complexities of love. 'This film deals with how our lives deconstruct and how we rebuild from scratch,' he explains, describing the film as dealing with a "re-awakening" rather than a traditional coming-of-age tale. As the characters confront their realities, Grobbelaar has woven elements of comedy and pain, resulting in a story rich with emotional depth. Antoinette Louw. Image: Supplied.
