He is today probably the most influential player in South African rugby, and the number of cups he has won, is surely an example of that.

Still, Fourie Du Preez is as passionate about the Currie Cup as the first day he ran out for the Blue Bulls in 2001 as a 19 year old youngster.

He knows what Champagne tastes like from the golden cup, but however today is as thirsty for that taste especially after the team was last sole holders of the Currie Cup in 2004, and shared with the Cheetahs in 2006.

“It is one of those unique things about South African Rugby. The emotions that the Currie Cup awakes in you, you will not get anywhere in the world”,  the 27-year old player explained his motivation for the Currie Cup final next week against the Cheetahs in Pretoria.

Another not so well known characteristic of this ex-Affie-player is that he has an extremely competitive nature, not only on the rugby field, but also on the golf course.

This is one of the reasons why he is so successful as an international player, because he wants to be the world’s best scrumhalf.

At provincial level it is even worse as he is a born and bred Blue Bull. His father, Fourie du Preez Snr, also played rugby for the light blue team in the 60’s when they won the Currie Cup.

The Cheetahs should be wary of this focussed scrumhalf, even though a mistake in 2005 enabled the visitors to win unexpectedly.

At that time a seemingly harmless kick landed between Du Preez and Johan Roets, which allowed Meyer Bosman to score the winning points.

In the World Cup group matches between the Boks and England in 2007, Fourie single handedly destroyed the English with three pieces of brilliance in only 18 minutes.

He even showed less mercy towards the Chiefs. In the S14 final earlier this year at Loftus, Fourie was even more clinical. It only took him seven minutes to score two tries that took the hart and soul out of the visitors.

“The Cheetahs is not a team that go and lie down.” Fourie said to bring back perspective against a possible blitz again.

“We however last year in Bloemfontein proved in the S14 that we could score a lot of points against  them”