Deon Fourie’s Springbok recall will offer Rassie Erasmus a huge impact off the bench against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, according to Victor Matfield.
Fourie on Monday was called up to the Bok squad after scoring a try, making 14 tackles and winning two turnovers in the Stormers’ loss to New Zealand in Cape Town last week.
“He’s been out for six months, and he’s 39 years old, turning 40 one of these days. I mean, that performance earned him a call-up,” Matfield said on the Rivals podcast.
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Fourie’s last Bok outing came in the 2023 World Cup final, when the 13-cap ballhawk came off the bench at hooker and played 77 minutes.
“He was outstanding in the World Cup final, coming on and playing hooker for 70-odd minutes,” Matfield added. “He’s just a guy who leads from the front.
“Especially with a guy like Kwagga Smith not being there at the moment, he might just play a role off the bench.”
The former Bok skipper highlighted what makes Fourie so effective at hooker and loose forward.
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“When he started playing hooker, a lot of people said he was too small for the position. So then he started playing a bit of openside.
“He went over to France and then, at about 35 or 36, he came back and led the Stormers, where he had a huge impact.
“He’s just a physical beast who likes to get stuck in,” Matfield said. “He’s a bit like an old-school Heinrich Brüssow over the ball.”
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Matfield also believes Fourie’s influence has been felt in the rise of Paul de Villiers, who will now find himself competing with his former Stormers mentor at the Boks.
“Paul de Villiers, who has done so well, has learned from him. I mean, he’s had to keep Paul out of the [Stormers] team for the last three years,” the ex-lock noted.
“Now that Deon is ready, Paul may need to move to the bench. They’re two outstanding fetchers, and I think Deon’s impact on Paul’s development has also been huge.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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Deon Fourie’s Springbok recall will offer Rassie Erasmus a huge impact off the bench against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, according to Victor Matfield.
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