Hottie Louw snubs WP, joins Blue Bulls

The Blue Bulls have completed another signing coup by recruiting Springbok lock Hottie Louw to their ranks for the rest of the Currie Cup season.

Louw recently returned to South Africa after playing the past three seasons in France. He specifically contacted the Blue Bulls to see if they would be able to utilise his services for the rest of the season.

The 30-year old former Bok was in action for Corne Krige's invitation team recently against the World XV and asked specifically to work with coach Heyneke Meyer as part of his deal, snubbing the Western Province connection that made him a Springbok earlier in his career.

Louw joined a number of other players who have grown disillusioned with the Province set-up.

It was taken for granted that if he returned to South Africa, he would return to the Cape.

But now the big lock will join the Bulls in the next week and help guide some of the young forwards they have in this year's competition.

The Bulls already have locks Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw out of the competition and on duty with the national team.

In Francois van Schouwenburg, Adriaan Fondse and Cliffie Milton, they have some of the best talent in the country and Louw will now add his name to these ranks.

"I'm not sure if the deal has been finalised yet, but we are getting Hottie here for the Currie Cup," said Meyer. "Like Warren Brosnihan, we have contracted him for a specific role and that is to help the younger forwards through the season. He is a seasoned campaigner and can add a lot of value to our set-up through the season."

Meyer needs all the help he can get at the moment, especially after the Bulls' poor showing in beating the Falcons 18-16 at Loftus Versfeld Friday night and the prospect of losing Akona Ndungane on Monday along with SA Under-21 stars Chiliboy Ralepelle and Pierre Spies for the remainder of the season to the Springboks.

The Bulls coach was hoping to have the two youngsters available to play a major part in the Currie Cup season.

Springbok coach Jake White should release Pedrie Wannenburg to play in the Currie Cup and this will come as a relief to the Blue Bulls side.

Meyer was philosophical about his side's performance on Friday night, saying the Bulls suffered from making the wrong decisions.

"I don't want to take anything away from the Falcons, who played well on the evening, but we didn't make good decisions out there and our play was below our standard.

"There were some reasons for this, but we lost continuity in the second half and we struggled to regain it," said Meyer.

Meyer said the senior players, such as JP Nel and Morne Steyn, had let the side down in the game where they should have played a leading role.

Steyn, in particular, has been off form since late in the Super 14 but with no other flyhalf fit to go, Meyer has no option but to play him.