Elrigh Louw says playing Munster in front of a home crowd at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday has raised the excitement levels in the Vodacom Bulls squad.

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Having opened their Vodacom URC campaign with four matches on tour in Ireland, Wales and Scotland, the Bulls are eager to face their European opponents at Lotfus, where a tough Munster side will be the first to visit on Saturday.

Louw says he has been keeping a close eye on the visiting Irish side that has claimed four wins out of five games so far in their campaign.

“I rate them quite highly,” he admitted. “They are a top-class side, and with a coaching staff like they have, you can never underestimate them.

“I think they will bring a good kicking game, and a very good game on the ground, in the rucks. But we also have our own plans, and we are not focusing on them more than we are focusing on our own game.”

Talk ahead of the clash have suggested that the Bulls will have a point to prove and attempt to stamp their authority as one of the front-runners among the South African contingent in the Vodacom URC following their dominance on the domestic front.

However, the 22-year-old Louw has downplayed suggestions that they have anything to prove.

“We wouldn’t say we have a point to prove. I think we just owe ourselves a good performance. We just need to show what we can do here at Loftus. We are now back at Loftus, our fortress, so it’s going to be a good game.”

Following his arrival at the Bulls at the end of 2020, Louw has been a consistent performer to join the list of young players expected to become Springboks one day.

The versatile loose forward indicated his focus is on remaining in good physical shape, and to contribute to the Bulls’ cause before his career is catapulted to the next level – international rugby, a dream that remains for him.

“Personally, I’m feeling very good, I’m in good shape. We have been working hard on our individual skills and sharpening up over the past few weeks. I think the team will be a lot sharper now that we all know what’s coming,” he said.

“I think every day, for the rest of my career, I will always have ambitions of playing for the Springboks. I will never throw that ambition and dream of mine out of the window, no matter how long it takes.”

The match between the Bulls and Munster will kick off at 7:45pm on Saturday.