‘Accidents happen,’ says Deon Fourie about big RWC final outing

Springbok utility forward Deon Fourie completed a remarkable World Cup campaign by playing a major role in the Boks triumphing 12-11 in the showpiece finale against the All Blacks at the Stade de France on Saturday night.

It has been an incredible journey for Fourie, who became the oldest ever Bok debutant when he took to the field last year at the age of 35 in their home game against Wales in Bloemfontein, and is now a World Cup champion at 37.

ALSO READ: ‘They don’t understand what this means for SA’ – Siya Kolisi

Fourie started his career at hooker, but during his franchise career he was never touted as a possible Bok player, before he made the move to France.

It was in France that Fourie switched positions and turned into a fantastic blindside flank, with him then returning to South Africa and playing superbly with the Stormers as he helped them become the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) champions.

Brilliant showings

His brilliant showings for the Stormers persuaded the Bok management to call up Fourie, as a loose forward, but it was during last year’s international campaign, with third choice hooker Joseph Dweba struggling, that the Boks started seeing Fourie as a possible back-up hooking option as well.

The Boks then went all in when they named their World Cup squad in August, picking Fourie as the ‘third choice’ hooker and leaving Dweba at home.

Although he was picked in the position, Fourie wasn’t expected to do too much in France with Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi set to do the heavy lifting, but a serious knee injury ruled Marx out of the World Cup and elevated Fourie to second choice.

In the final it was then Mbonambi that picked up the knee injury in the third minute, leaving Fourie to come on a lot earlier than he is used to and front up against the Boks’ biggest rivals’ the All Blacks’ in the biggest game.

Fourie followed up with an impressive performance, scrumming well, doing superb work at the breakdown and was immense on defence, making 21 tackles, though he struggled a bit at the lineout with a number of his throw-ins stolen.

Thrilling win

In the end it was all good as the Boks held on for a thrilling win and Fourie became a World Cup winner at the ripe old age of 37.

“It wasn’t part of the plan (coming on to replace Mbonambi early). He was due to do the game but accidents happen. We thought we’d given him a few minutes to see how he goes but luckily I’ve played a few games in the World Cup,” said Fourie.

“I came through 75 minutes. It was tough on the body, a few cramps and all that stuff. But at the end of the day we’ve got the medal around our necks which is all that counts.

“I was tired and I was in a dark place (towards the end of the game). At that (late) stage of the game both my hammies (hamstrings) were cramping and my calves were cramping and I felt bad around my shoulder but I knew I couldn’t go off as Bongi was already injured and we needed a hooker.

“So I bit the bullet and luckily we got to the end.”