Former England flyhalf Stuart Barnes says the Springboks will need to bring Francois Louw into their starting lineup for the World Cup final on Saturday.
The Boks face England in Yokohama in a repeat of the 2007 World Cup final, after claiming a narrow three-point victory over Wales in the semi-finals.
England’s flank duo of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, affectionately dubbed the ‘Kamikaze Kids’ by coach Eddie Jones, have been in inspired form throughout the tournament and outplayed New Zealanders Ardie Savea and Scott Barrett in the first semi-final on Saturday.
ALSO READ: ‘Siya’s been an inspiration’
Barnes said that if the Springboks are to give themselves hope of winning, a change will need to come in their loose-trio in order to combat the breakdown threat of Curry and Underhill.
‘South Africa to win the World Cup have got to start competing better at the breakdown,’ Barnes said. ‘They are going to have to turnover ball.
‘Does that mean Malcolm Marx starts and the other question is can they leave Francois Louw out because Louw does that time after time after time. When you look at Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje England have got a fantastic turnover game.
‘It asks the question Siya Kolisi is a magnificent leader and he stands up for so much in South Africa, but I think Francois Louw is a better openside than Siya Kolisi. That poses an imponderable question for Erasmus.’
ALSO READ: Will ‘bomb squad’ alter Jones’ thinking?
Louw has primarily been used off the bench in the tournament and has been effective in that role, winning a crucial turnover in the last 10 minutes against Wales.
Photo: Getty Images
