South African flanker Francois Louw has forged a remarkable career as one of the South Hemisphere's best opensides in the game. The 32-year-old has played on both sides of the world, having made a Super Rugby final with the Stormers before signing for Bath in 2011.
He has played with the English club since then and was recently asked to select a world rugby dream team. Louw opted to overlook New Zealand's Richie McCaw and Dan Carter and did not include a single Australian player in the team, but he did choose two Irish players; Keith Wood and Paul O'Connell.
15. Christian Cullen (New Zealand) 14. Bryan Habana (South Africa) 13. Jean de Villiers (SA) 12. Tana Umaga (NZ) 11. Jason Robinson (England) 10. Carlos Spencer (NZ) 9. Fourie du Preez (SA) 8. Sebastian Chabal (France) 7. Schalk Burger (SA) 6. Jerry Collins (NZ) 5. Victor Matfield (SA) 4. Paul O'Connell (Ireland) 3. Carl Hayman (NZ) 2. Keith Wood (Ire) 1. Os du Randt (SA)
Louw praised O'Connell as "Munster through and through" while referenced Keith Woods' World Rugby Player of the Year award from 2001.
O'Connell has always been held in high regard by this South African team. Lock Victor Matfield, who also makes the team, called O'Connell "the best player I've played against" back in 2014.
