There is an intriguing subplot to this afternoon’s crunch URC battle between the Lions and visiting Bulls: a showdown between two players ranked among the top tightheads in the country.
The question on everyone’s lips (okay, maybe just mine) is whether the Lions’ 150kg powerhouse and all-round menace, Asenathi Ntlabakanye will make boerewors of the Bulls’ 125kg scrumming demon Wilco Louw.
Provincial bragging rights are at stake today. 😤
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🗓: Sat, 25 Jan
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Granted, they won’t pack down against each other in the scrums, which should be a key battleground of a titanic Jukskei Derby (2.25pm kick-off), but who is likely to leave Ellis Park the happier?
The beefy battle will also provide insight into how far the duo are behind Frans Malherbe of the Stormers, the Bok incumbent at tighthead. They are often in the succession conversation.
While Louw, 30, is seen as the heir apparent, with 14 Test caps to his name already, Ntlabakanye can feel hard done by as he bides his time.
This may have only served to inspire monster performances in the massive prop whose mobility sets him apart in broken play, while he has the ability to make the hard yards, drive the maul and break defensive lines with ferocious intent. His scrumming power, much like that of the lighter Louw, is also able to keep the Lions attack rumbling on (and is often the source of penalties for his team). Yet he is also able to read the game well, has uncanny speed for a big guy that allows him to keep up with play and scramble well on defence (the crunching tackle on Bulls wing Sergeal Petersen is still getting views), great offload ability and the engine to keep going.
It is not only his size that makes him the focal point of attention. Ntlabakanye, 25, has been one of the few constants in an up-and-down Lions season. It is no wonder that there was speculation about interest in the prop from French giants Toulouse, the Champions Cup holders, at the back end of last year.
Louw, for his part, is one of the best scrummagers in the world, in the opinion of many, who is also solid in open play.
Bulls mentor Jake White once described Louw as “140kg of Afrikaans boere vleis”.
Will the Lions be feasting on boerewors later, or will the Bulls pack trample all over their neighbours?