Leading up to last weekend’s Currie Cup north-south derby at Loftus, rumours had it that the Blue Bulls were going to target Western Province prop Wilco Louw.
The Springbok tighthead prop responded in the best imaginable way, scrumming the Bulls pack stukkend as WP claimed a 34-7 win.
His performance in that match earned rave reviews among his peers, who awarded him with the team’s “Vark Hart” award.
The award is given to the player that shows the most heart on the weekend and if the Bulls thought that playing mind games with the 24-year-old would get him off his game, they were wrong.
Louw explains: “A lot of things get said off the field. You just have to decide whether you are going to let it bother you or not.
“It can either psyche you up or you can get mad - it’s part of the game and we’re all friends afterwards.
“It’s nice to have a bit of banter in the game.”
REWARDED: WP prop Wilco Louw
The banter backfired on the Bulls. But Louw is sure the Pretoria outfit will look to make amends when the two teams lock horns again in Saturday's semifinal at Newlands.
He says of the encounter: “We will prepare like we do for every other game.
"The Bulls will come with other plans, but we’ll just stick to what we’re doing.”
And what WP will be trying to do on Saturday is to entertain the Newlands faithful, while at the same time booking their place in the Currie Cup final.
PLANMAKER: Coach Dobson. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
Louw adds: “We want to play entertaining rugby, the last match wasn’t the prettiest.
“Hopefully the weather plays along on Saturday so that we can do everything we want to - scrum well and play lekker.”
There are talks that the Bulls might use Springbok Trevor Nyakane at loosehead for the match.
Louw, though, is min gespin about the duel and says of Nyakane: “It’s unbelievable that he can play in both positions at international level.
“I tip my hat to him and I look forward to this weekend.”