Ken Borland
Johannesburg – Saturday’s Test between the Springboks and the Wallabies in Brisbane will be a major landmark in a top-class career for Jaque Fourie. But it has also been a career with more than a fair share of misfortune in it for the 26-year-old.
Fourie will play his 50th Test on Saturday, but would have reached the landmark far earlier were it not for the fact that he is currently on his third comeback from injury.
After making his debut in the 2003 World Cup in Australia, the Gauteng Lions star missed the Tri-Nations in 2004 with a groin hernia. He returned to the Green and Gold for the end-of-year tour and enjoyed his longest injury-free run, all the way to September 2006, before he broke his hand just days before the trip to Ireland and England.
Fourie returned and played through 2007, before missing last year’s Tri-Nations due to a broken cheekbone.
“Ja, it’s been an up-and-down career with a lot of injuries, but the last year has been good and we’ve had some memorable wins. It’s a great privilege to play 50 Tests for your country,” Fourie said.
The Monument high school product has been party to one of the most successful eras in Springbok rugby, and has been one of its most celebrated players, his lethal combination of pace, power and vision in midfield making him one of the most respected figures in the world game.
And, he believes his injuries and the recent indecision coach Peter de Villiers has gone through in terms of whether to pick him or Adrian Jacobs at outside centre have actually been beneficial.
“God allows things to happen for a reason and I don’t take anything for granted. But after every injury I’ve come back bigger, stronger and faster and it’s how you stand up after setbacks that matters.
“And having someone like Adi Jacobs around means you can’t rest, it makes you work harder and it’s great to have that sort of competition for places in the team,” Fourie said.
There has also, of course, been confusion over where exactly the Carletonville-born Fourie will be playing his rugby next year, his name being linked with Western Province during the flurry of potential new signings that was made public at the start of silly season. But the player himself is unfazed.
“I don’t think very often about where I’ll be playing next year, I’ll just enjoy my rugby wherever I’m playing. Right now I’m just concentrating on us winning the Tri-Nations.”
And when Fourie focuses on something, special things tend to happen thanks to his never-say-die attitude.
“The mind is a powerful thing and I believe when you set your mind to something, you will achieve it. I want to be one of the best number 13s in the world and then I want to stay there.”
Fourie was one of the poor Springboks who featured in the 49-0 drubbing the last time they played in Brisbane, but he says returning to the Suncorp Stadium is not a scary prospect.
“In 2006 that was a bad day for Springbok rugby, we really got killed, but it’s 2009 now and we’re a totally different team, we’ve grown a lot and have more experience. We’re playing the best rugby we have in a long time and South African rugby is very healthy at the moment.”
Fourie added that there were no thoughts of going out to avenge that loss on Saturday.
“I never live in the past and that match has played no part in our motivation. Hopefully we’ll have a good game on Saturday and win the Tri-Nations, that’s our motivation.”
Half Century Jan!!!!!
@Tripples – fo sho he is a graet player.lets hope for 50 more
What a player. Pity that he is wasted playing for the Lions. He must be happy that he will be winning in Aus on Saturday and not losing in Bloem.
@Loosehead – Perhaps draka snotske can make him an offer i think he wil make a striking figure in a white jersey
@Loosehead – Oh sooooo true…..
@smallies72 – he will look even better in blue 😆
@Tripples – nee man blue does not match his skin tone or hair must be white with orange
@smallies72 – Pity that the States can’t afford him.
He could always write it off as chairty work.
@smallies72 – maar dan kan hy darrem weer met sy maiki Jaco speel as hy blou aantrek, and we all know that blue is the MOST beeeeooooootifool colour!!!!
@smallies72 – Orange and white is the new blue.
@Loosehead – kan hom maklik kry,ons se net dat ons vir rose verniet sal vat as ons vir mossie kan kry
@smallies72 – Nee Flok man is jy heeltemal mal? Nie eers die WP wil Rose he nie.
@Tripples – Ja en dis hoekom spietkops blou dra lol
@Loosehead – Come to think of it, we could play Rose against the minnows [Lions, Leopards, WP] and then the Sharks will buy him, just like they always do.
13@smallies72 – EINA! :LOL:
@Loosehead – ons leen rose vir die griffons.jy sien ek het die ding goed bedink
@smallies72 – Ek span gou die osse in en dan jaag ek Bloem toe om Naka te vertel. Sien julle in 2 weke.
@Loosehead – ek is nader teen die tyd wat jy hier kom het rasman hom wp toe gelok met gratis snoek
@smallies72 – Gaan jy liewers dan. Onthou net dat die Griffons verwag dat jy hulle hele seisoen gaan op vlok.
@Loosehead – nee hulle score dan vir earl woods hulle sal ma te bly wees
@Tripples – Why so quit mate
@smallies72 – #21 Working at the same time hehehehe, so come and check every now and then and make a comment….not quiet at all
@Tripples – yep also on the skelm here.but then you know what they say about rules
So what’s the latest on Mossie, is he still moving to the Cape?
@Pietman – @Pietman – Dont know.just hope he doesnt end like werner swannepoel without a contract after the tug of war is over
The man oozes confidence and i thnk that it makes him a fantastic player and much better than Jacobs who for me should only come of the bench as a impact player and morning all am here justfor a bit.
ek sien ashley johnsen speel 8 vir die cheetahs die naweek
@smallies72 – We can play our reserves against these minnows.
@Loosehead – hendro injured magic out for the rest of the season demas also injured
@smallies72 – Naka sal net drie spelers van Grey af gaan haal, en dan kak die leeu’s in elk geval.
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