14 November 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

Beast and Flo: Two of the very best

For everything they did for Springbok rugby, it’s poetic that the careers of Tendai Mtawarira and Francois Louw, two of their generation’s best, culminated with World Cup glory, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

If anyone deserved to go out on top, it’s the legendary duo of “Beast” and “Flo.” For over a decade, they put their bodies on the line and poured their hearts and souls into Springbok rugby. Their passion, love and respect for the Green and Gold illuminated every battlefield on which they showcased their warrior spirit, gladiatorial grit, irrepressible nature and undeniable talent.

That their final frontier was the masterful 32-12 massacre of England in the World Cup final in Yokohama was truly fitting, the warhorses riding into the sunset having finally won rugby’s world war. Both men were Springbok trail-blazers, Mtawarira coming from Zimbabwe to South Africa to carve out an unlikely and unrivalled career and Louw becoming a linchpin despite spending the majority of his career abroad.

A true servant of South African rugby, Beast’s career spanned 13 years of provincial rugby and 11 seasons on the international arena, during which time he became a Sharks and Springbok icon as well as one of the most universally beloved and respected players of all-time.

The raw emotion with which he played the game, his controlled aggression, humility, skill and work ethic resonated with all rugby lovers, irrespective of their allegiances, and made him a larger-than-life figure that earned the adulation of fans worldwide.

From Durban to Auckland, Sydney to Buenos Aires, London to Cardiff, Dublin to Edinburgh, Paris to Tokyo and everywhere in between, fans bellowed out “Beeeeast” whenever the legendary loosehead prop set off on one of his trademark rampaging runs.

As mobile as he was powerful, Mtawarira was like a shark smelling blood in the water. The 1.83m, 115kg predatory prop covered oceans of space across the park, feasting on ball-carriers with bone-crunching hits and smashing into rucks with terminal velocity.

When push came to shove, he was a master of the dark art of scrummaging. Not one to rely on his God-given power, Mtawarira meticulously honed his technique and evolved into one of the very best as a result – a boogeyman that tormented even the toughest of tightheads.

He became a scrummaging artist, one whose gallery included the famous emasculation of British and Irish Lions ace Phil Vickery, with Kings Park as the backdrop. That piece of art, dating back to 2009, was among the most popular of his career, both beautiful and brutal, the stuff of dreams and nightmares.

The grizzled artist left the best for last, however. With the International Stadium Yokohama as his canvas, Mtawarira painted his Mona Lisa as he trampled England tighthead Dan Cole in the last and most important Test of his life. In one last glorious stand, the 34-year-old ripped the heart and soul out of the English pack by winning four first-half scrum penalties.

With his masterpiece complete and the foundation for ultimate glory laid, Mtawarira made his well-deserved curtain call three minutes into the second half. When the dust settled, ex-Sharks and Springbok captain John Smit, who’d scrummed down with Mtawarira for a large part of his decorated career, paid tribute to his former teammate, saying, “Beasty, I had the privilege of playing many a game with you and I can honestly say that when you get angry, or something or someone flicks your switch, nobody in the front row can live with you!”

Receiving his World Cup winner’s medal was the crowning moment of the gentle giant’s rugby journey, one filled with highlights and forged in self-belief. More than anything, it’s Mtawarira’s perseverance that paved the way for his greatness.

His father didn’t want him to pursue a career in rugby; he’d urged his son to follow a less risky profession instead. This only added fuel to his fire Beast told reporters the week leading up to the final, saying, “All I thought about was being a Springbok. It was all I dreamed of. My dad thought I was making the wrong move. He told me that if I went down to South Africa, I would be facing giants who were probably going to crush me. He didn’t really believe in my ability, so I saw it as a challenge. I told myself: ‘I’m going to prove you wrong.'”

That he did. However, even after the strong-willed Mtawarira had earned the right to run out for the Springboks, having done so on 15 occasions, controversy suddenly surrounded his citizenship and objection from then-Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile threatened to bring his career to a screeching halt. Even though the saga sidelined the Harare-born behemoth for just over a year, it, fortunately, proved to be a roadblock rather than a dead-end.

Donning the Green and Gold 117 times (102 starts), the most of any South African prop, playing a South African-record 159 Super Rugby games, winning three Currie Cups (2008, 2010 and 2013), the Tri-Nations (2009), a British and Irish Lions Series (2009), the Rugby Championship earlier this year and finally, the World Cup, the Beast bows out as one of the all-time greats.

Louw, like Mtawarira, was a special talent. It’s unprecedented for a player plying his trade abroad to be more than an occasional Springbok. Yet, Louw won all but seven of his 76 Test caps while being based in Bath. After a successful career with the Stormers, which saw him make 53 Super Rugby appearances – including in the 2010 final against the Bulls – and with Western Province, who he represented in 65 Currie Cup clashes, Louw opted to head to England in 2011.

Signing with Bath was a bold move that put his Springbok future at risk and drew criticism from a portion of aggrieved Stormers supporters who accused the Cape Town born and bred flank of selling out. In actuality, Flo like Beast, bet on himself and the risk resulted in him reaching his full potential.

He evolved into one of the world’s finest fetchers. A nightmare at the breakdown, he made the second-most turnovers at the 2015 World Cup in New Zealand (13). At 1.90m and 109kg, he also had the size to win the gainline battle at either end. Offensively, he was a bustling ball-carrier; strong and skillful, he scored 10 Test tries, the last of them in the 57-3 win over Namibia in this year’s World Cup, while on defence, he was a tireless tackler – physical, ever-present and ultra-committed.

Impossible to ignore, he remained a Springbok mainstay and his maturity into a complete back-rower saw him start five Tests in the No.8 jersey, including the 66-7 win over Canada in Kobe in what was his last appearance in the run-on side. A senior member of the 2019 class, the 34-year-old was a key member of the “Bomb Squad”, coming on either at the side or the back of the scrum at crucial times to make crucial plays, none more significant than in the semi-final showdown with Wales in Yokohama.

With the contest on a knife-edge, with Wales having levelled the scores at 16-all, Louw made a trademark turnover in the 74th minute – a penalty that saw the Springboks regain control and close out the contest. Coach Rassie Erasmus hailed it as a “massive” moment, adding, “That specific turnover by Flo was very important for us to go through to the final.”

A week later, he replaced captain Siya Kolisi in the 63rd minute of the final and finished his career on the ultimate high. He bows out as a bona fide legend and the second-most-capped flank in Springbok history behind 2007 World Cup winner Schalk Burger (86).

Erasmus, in his response to Louw announcing his retirement, summed it up best, saying, “Flo was a real warrior of the back row. He was always ready to go where the fire was hottest and was the kind of tough-minded character that you’d always want beside you. He didn’t take a step backwards ever.

“He has been a tremendous servant of South African rugby and we’re losing a lot with his retirement, not just in how he played, but in the calmness, insight and character that he brought to the group.”

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