Louw will line up at openside flanker for the Springboks at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday as Wales go in search of a first southern hemisphere scalp for five years.
The 28-year-old forward has been in sensational form for both club and country this season and Bath boss Mike Ford feels his man is right up there with the very best flankers in the global game.
Louw was a central figure in Bath’s last outing at Worcester on Friday night and former England coach Ford expects him to have a similar impact in Springbok colours in Cardiff.
“Francois Louw was brilliant on the ground, brilliant off the ground and brilliant in the air. We’re going to miss him when he’s with South Africa,” said Ford, after the 21-6 win at Sixways.
“If you watch him, he doesn’t go for the ball every time. That’s the difference between a good No. 7 and a world-class seven – they understand when to go into the ruck.
“If he doesn’t slow the ball down, he usually nicks it, and he doesn’t give any penalties away. That’s what sets him apart. It puts him in the bracket alongside (Richie) McCaw, (Michael) Hooper and (David) Pocock. He’s up there with them.”
Louw could come up against Bath team-mate Paul James in Cardiff after the former Ospreys prop was named on the Wales bench by Warren Gatland.
James has been equally impressive on the nine occasions he has featured for Bath this season and Ford cannot speak highly enough of his first-choice tight-head.
“Paul’s been fantastic,” added Ford, who has seen the 31-year-old excel under the new scrum laws in his second season with the West Country outfit.
“He’s been a leader for us as well. The scrum has been very dominant for us. He’s been a revelation and we’re going to miss him.”
