Of all the Springboks’ unsung heroes at the 2023 RWC, none deserve more credit than Deon Fourie, who completed the most remarkable fairytale journey to ultimately achieve World Cup glory.
When the 37-year-old returned to the Stormers in 2021, he openly admitted that earning Springboks selection was the furthest thing from his mind. However, he has aged like fine wine, with the regular flanker proving to be one of the most influential players for the Stormers over two unforgettable URC seasons.
With Siya Kolisi missing most of the Springboks’ games prior to the World Cup due to injury, Fourie suddenly became an even more important member of the Bok team, and ultimately earned a ticket to France not long after becoming the oldest-ever Springbok debutant.
Fourie’s role at the World Cup then went from ‘back-up’ utility forward to the second choice hooker after an injury to Malcolm Marx.
In the final, the veteran unexpectedly had to play as many as 76 minutes of the title decider, replacing injured Bongi Mbonambi early in the contest and even captaining the side in the closing stages.
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However, on Monday, when Rassie Erasmus unveiled the names of 43 players for a two-day alignment camp in March, it was notable that Deon Fourie was missing from an otherwise extensive list of locally-based players.
It should be noted that this will mark the first of three alignment camps before the Springboks put the building blocks in place on the field for the international season, and so there is a chance that Fourie could still be called up later on.
Yet there is also a very real possibility that the Springboks may be rather keen to look at their ‘next gen’ options considering that Fourie will be 41-years-old at the next World Cup, with young uncapped hookers such as Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Andre-Hugo Venter cracking the nod.
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Deon Fourie has missed out on the first Springbok alignment camp (in alphabetical order):
Forwards: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Celimpilo Gumede (Vodacom Bulls), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Ruan Venter (Emirates Lions), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Hendrikse (Emirates Lions), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Henco van Wyk (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
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Big season ahead
The Springboks’ July fixtures include two Tests against Ireland and the first international against Portugal in the Incoming Series.
The Rugby Championship, meanwhile, will see the world champions play back-to-back Tests against Australia away before successive Tests against New Zealand at home, and two Tests – one home and one away – against Argentina.
CONFIRMED: 43 players invited to Springboks’ alignment camp
