After dazzling in a game for the Stormers, Fourie was recalled to the Springboks squad. Initially picked as a substitute hooker for the second Test in Cape Town, he found himself in the starting lineup after a last-minute switch by coach Rassie Erasmus. At nearly 40 years old, Fourie became the oldest Springbok to compete when he took to the field at Cape Town Stadium.
This marked his first Springbok appearance since the 2023 World Cup final in Paris, where he significantly contributed as a hooker. In Cape Town's recent Test, Fourie played a crucial 35 minutes in a 33-26 victory before being replaced by Malcolm Marx.
"He was awesome. I thought he brought so much to the team,"
Erasmus praised Fourie's performance enthusiastically. With another game looming, Fourie is slated to bring his experience off the bench once more as a hooker in the upcoming third Test at FNB Stadium.
Human emphasized Fourie's value, noting his vast experience and versatility in playing both hooker and flanker since a young age. These attributes, according to Human, are vital in the Test series against New Zealand.
"But anyway, I think in these Test matches we need to have a lot of experience, which he has. He played from a very young age at hooker and flank. So he’s able to handle these kinds of situations, like he did in the World Cup final for us. He’s on form, he’s a big, big competitor and he’s one of the strongest scrummagers in South Africa. That’s how highly I rate him. Otherwise I would never have put up my hand to say, ‘Listen, we should pick this guy.'"
Looking ahead to the third Test, Human is excited about competing in front of a nearly sold-out FNB Stadium with a capacity crowd of 94,000 fans, underscoring the immense support from the South African fans. The enthusiasm at the venue is expected to mirror the intensity on the pitch, with Human playfully wishing the fans would chant for the scrum as energetically as soccer fans support their teams.
"I think it will be wonderful for South Africa, for all the South African support that we have at the moment. Obviously, we don’t want to disappoint them because they’re really standing behind us, and we need to give it back to them. I actually thought on my way down here, what is that country in the soccer World Cup that shouts, ‘Row! Row!’? [Norway.] I would actually love [the Bok fans] to say, “Scrum! Scrum!”’"
With crucial matches ahead, both the players and coaches are gearing up for a historical showdown, hoping to continue making their mark against one of rugby's greatest adversaries.
