Louw anticipates showdown with Sharks' Bok front row

WHILE Wilco Louw didn’t want to make Saturday’s scrum duel with Ox Nche a two-man battle, the Bulls’ hard-man is eager to test himself against the front row of the Sharks in a high-stakes clash.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

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.

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.