Deon Fourie took over as the Springboks' captain during the second half of their historic 43–28 victory over the All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026.
The veteran utility forward, who is just two weeks shy of his 40th birthday, came off the bench in the 50th minute to replace Malcolm Marx. Shortly after, in the 66th minute, stand-in captain Pieter-Steph du Toit went off with an injury. With Siya Kolisi already resting on the bench, Fourie took the captaincy armband, making him one of the oldest players ever to lead South Africa on the international stage.
The Springboks put on a clinical six-try display to seal the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series 3–1. A record-breaking crowd of 68,173 fans packed the home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, marking the largest-ever attendance for a rugby international in the United States.
Fourie's personal shift was a mixed bag of veteran grit and minor rustiness. He brought immense energy to the breakdown and defensive line during a crucial period as the All Blacks attempted a late fightback. While he missed his targets on two lineout throws and conceded a penalty at a ruck, his leadership successfully steered the "Bomb Squad" through the final whistle to secure the silverware. South Africa's tries came from Damian de Allende, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Cameron Hanekom.
Fourie’s appearance in Baltimore capped off a remarkable comeback from what looked like a career-ending injury list. Following a string of severe setbacks, including a broken ankle, a career-threatening ACL tear, a fractured tibia, and a torn bicep, the veteran doubted if he would ever return to the international stage.
“After the 2023 World Cup, I thought maybe I’ll play one or two more years,” Fourie said. “But last year I was again invited to an alignment camp in Cape Town. That sparked a bit of fire in me to wear the green and gold again. But unfortunately, after that I broke my ankle. The injuries piled up after that. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d wear the green and gold again.
“But I had a few good games at the end of the URC last year. My motivation was to get back onto the field and showcase that I still have rugby in me. All the criticism I get, usually from people out there, usually adds fuel to the fire for me, just to prove them wrong.”
The veteran forward’s birthday plans have shifted dramatically due to his international recall. Decent performances in this series may see him used in the upcoming one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth, scheduled just two days after his 40th birthday.
“My wife’s not too happy. She had plans a few months ago for my 40th. But that changed a bit,” Fourie chuckled. “Luckily it’s an off-day because we’re only playing on the Sunday. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do. I have a few friends in Sydney who will probably fly over to Perth; maybe they can make it special for me.”
Despite his age, Fourie is refusing to rule out a fairy-tale run to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, taking things day by day.
“It’s still a long way away and a lot of games to be played before then,” he noted. “If the body holds up and I can still perform at the top level, why not?”