South Africa’s Deon Fourie during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo: Mike Egerton / PA via Backpagepix

‘In my moer’: Springbok admits RWC final win came at a cost

Springbok Deon Fourie has opened up about the depth of his exhaustion after the gruelling World Cup final against the All Blacks last October.

by Mariette Adams

23-02-2024 14:37

in Springboks

South Africa’s Deon Fourie during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo: Mike Egerton / PA via Backpagepix

Springbok Deon Fourie has opened up about the highs and lows that came with South Africa’s epic one-point win over the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris last year.

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Initially selected as a utility forward among the Springboks substitutes for the final, Fourie was instrumental in South Africa’s implementation of of the 7-1 bench split against the All Blacks.

But that plan went out the window when hooker Bongi Mbonambi was forced the field due to an injury and Fourie was thrust into action in the third minute of the Test.

Despite the unexpected role he had to fulfil on such short notice and in such a high pressure situation, Fourie had what was arguably the greatest performance of his short Test career, as he helped the Springboks to a record fourth World Cup title.

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

“That 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.

“Kwagga 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.”