Fourie: World Cup final left me ‘my moer in’

Springbok world champion Deon Fourie has described the pain and ecstasy of helping South Africa win rugby’s showpiece tournament in France last year.

Fourie’s versatility earned him a spot on the bench for the final against the All Blacks, and the 37-year-old was thrust into action in the third minute when hooker Bongi Mbonambi limped off.

The veteran forward played a crucial role and captained the team in the closing moments as South Africa went back-to-back for an unprecedented fourth Webb Ellis Trophy crown.

Speaking on the Behind the Ruck podcast with former Boks Rudy Paige and Juan de Jongh, Fourie, who in 2022 became the oldest Bok debutant, reflected on the intensity of the final minutes and the frantic nature of the game’s climax.

“That [me coming on early] wasn’t the plan,” he said. “Bongi would have played 80 minutes, that was the plan. [But with the 7-1 split] we always kept that one oke just in case.

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“Kwagga [Smith] trained at scrumhalf and wing, we did all the scenarios. So I was the one that would have just stayed on the bench in case something happened.

“Then [Mbonambi’s injury] happened, and that whole plan didn’t work out.

“It was also my first game against the All Blacks, the first time standing in front of the haka, so everything was quite special. It was intense.”

Fourie added: “That last five minutes… stressful, tired, sore… I had injured my shoulder in the semi-final against England.

“After the game, my wife was there as well. There was no celebration when I got to my wife, my head just fell on her shoulder and I told her, ‘liefie… I’m my moer in‘. I was just so tired, I couldn’t celebrate.”