Veteran Springbok and DHL Stormers utility forward Deon Fourie has thrown his name into the hat for Friday night’s historic tour opener against the All Blacks, declaring himself fit and firing after a gruelling injury layoff.
Speaking at an online press conference on Monday, the 39-year-old confirmed he has fully recovered from a medial knee ligament injury. The setback, sustained 10 to 11 weeks ago via an illegal "croc-roll" tackle, required surgery and left his season hanging in the balance.
"I am ready (to play)," Fourie said. "It’s been about 10 or 11 weeks since the operation. Fitness-wise, I will only be able to tell you if I play on Friday how that is. But I am definitely ready to go, and I have been looking forward to this match since it was announced a year or two ago."
Fourie’s only previous encounter with New Zealand remains one of the most iconic moments in modern rugby history. Thrust into the 2023 Rugby World Cup final as an emergency hooker in just the third minute after Bongi Mbonambi’s injury, Fourie played 77 minutes to help secure the Webb Ellis Cup.
"I can’t really remember much about those 77 minutes; they went past so quickly. But it is a great memory," Fourie reflected.
"You always hope you can play them again. The last two years I have had bad luck with injuries, so I didn’t know if I would still be able to play this year. But fortunately, everything went well and I get an opportunity again to face the Haka."
Friday’s clash at DHL Stadium marks 50 years since the Western Province union last hosted the All Blacks on a traditional tour. For the vast majority of John Dobson’s squad, this is a once-in-a-career event.
Fourie said that the squad is fully aware of the magnitude of the occasion.
"It’s a massive occasion. We have spoken about how fortunate it is to get one game against the All Blacks. Probably 80 or 90 per cent of these guys won’t get that opportunity again," Fourie explained.
"If you don’t get into the Springbok setup, you will never face the Haka or play against the All Blacks. So, what a massive occasion, and I think 50 years on, we get that opportunity again as a union to play against a Test side."
The DHL Stormers will treat the match with full Test-level psychological intensity, setting the stage for an explosive start to the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour.