ULTIMATE WARRIOR: Fourie might be the right man at the right time against NZ

{JSON.stringify(article.attachments[0], null, 2)} --> The 39-year-old utility forward Deon Fourie’s 35 minutes against the All Blacks at DHL Stadium last Saturday made him the oldest Springbok in history.

Deon Fourie’s surprise start against the All Blacks in the second Test of the Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town last weekend slipped under the radar, which in many ways epitomises his career.

When he started the match, having been named as a reserve before a late change of front rows by coach Rassie Erasmus, Fourie became the oldest Springbok in history at 39 years and 338 days old.

It’s a remarkable achievement in a sport as attritional to the body as rugby. Fourie has been named in the match-day 23 for the third Test this weekend against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

He turns 40 later this month, but in what is not even twilight, but nighttime for most careers, Fourie might yet play at another World Cup in 2027, as unthinkable as that seems.

“In these Test matches [against the All Blacks] we need to have a lot of experience, which he has,” Bok scrum coach Daan Human said.

“Deon played hooker and flank from a very young age, and he’s able to handle these kinds of situations like he did in the World Cup final for us. I think he’s really a big, big competitor.

“And in my opinion, I don’t want to say the most underrated, but most strong scrummagers in South Africa. That’s why I rate him. Otherwise, I’d have never put up my hand to say we should pick this guy.”

Fourie has never been in the game for personal glory and accolades. He is the ultimate team man, the unflinching warrior every squad dreams of having, and a player coaches adore because he adds so much value to the team environment.

For Fourie to be selected to play South Africa’s most crucial Test in three years, just a month shy of his 40th birthday, says everything you need to know about the man’s ability and character.

Starting at hooker in a frothing DHL Stadium, a position he has hardly frequented since his earlier career nearly 20 years ago, Fourie had a huge job to do against the All Blacks.

It underlined his attitude and value that at the first lineout, less than a minute into the game, he connected with his jumpers and then set himself at the back of a rolling maul.

From there he burst away, coming up five metres short of New Zealand’s tryline under some heavy tackles. He presented the ball perfectly for a quick ruck. Three phases later the Boks scored the opening try of the match through centre Jesse Kriel, putting them on their way to a 33-26 victory.

To make Fourie’s return to Test rugby for the first time since the final of Rugby World Cup 2023 even more remarkable, the Test at DHL Stadium was only his second match in 12 weeks, following a medial ligament injury during the United Rugby Championship (URC) match against Ulster, where he was caught in a croc roll.