Deon Fourie was pleased with his first start at hooker for the Springboks, but the veteran campaigner feared not being able to complete the World Cup win against Tonga.
Fourie delivered a Man of the Match performance in South Africa’s 49-18 victory in Marseille on Sunday, which temporarily moved the Boks top of Pool B.
The 37-year-old flanker completed an almost perfect night throwing in at the lineout, while grabbing a try – one of seven for SA – from a massive maul. Marco van Staden took over the lineout duties in the second half when he replaced captain Siya Kolisi.
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With Malcolm Marx ruled out due to injury, and Bongi Mbonambi the only out-and-out hooker in the Bok squad, Fourie could find himself playing in a World Cup playoff in France.
Speaking post-match at Stade de Marseille, Fourie touched on his throwing and switching to hooker, as well as where the game ranked in terms of the most physical he has ever played.
“I was way more relaxed than the last two games. Romania gave me a bit of confidence, and especially Ireland with that last throw,” he told reporters.
“I know Marvin Orie from the Stormers, we played two years together so our synchronisation worked well. I think I just lost one lineout tonight, so that definitely gives me confidence.
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“The games in South Africa against the Bulls; that is always physical as well. Probably not the big hits that I felt today a few times that you saw. Credit to them, they came out firing.”
Fourie added: “I haven’t played 80 minutes in a long time, so I’ll probably do a bit more fitness. I was quite tired on 65 minutes, I didn’t see how I was going to finish this off with 15 minutes to go.
“There’s not much difference between hooker and flanker, apart from the scrumming and lineouts. After that it’s open play, and at the moment how the game’s evolved, you can see how Malcolm Marx plays, he’s almost like a flanker as well.”
🗣️ “The body is old, but I still kept going!”
Deon Fourie is the @Mastercard #POTM #RWC2023 | #RSAvTGA | #Priceless pic.twitter.com/RT96jIZbQd
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 1, 2023
Photo: Christophe Simon/AFP