Centre spot up for grabs as Fourie retires from Boks
family and concentrate on his club career at Kobe Steelers in Japan. Fourie, who left South African shores after the 2011 World Cup, is believed to be earning in the region of R12-million a year in Japan. In August this year he told myplayers.co.za: “Person- ally, it was great to play for the Springboks again (at the end of last year) after sitting out a few years. It’s disappointing to miss the Tests this year because of injury. I do plan on coming back to South Africa for the 2015 season to contend for a place in the Springbok squad for the World Cup.”
Fourie had been linked with a move to the Sharks for next year’s Super Rugby campaign, but he has subsequently extended his contract with the Steelers. His retirement follows hot on the heels of Bakkies Botha also calling it quits.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who so values experienced men, would have been caught unawares by the decisions of Botha and now also Fourie to retire. The World Cup is less than a year away and the Boks will play in only five more Tests (including this weekend’s against Wales in Cardiff) before featuring in their opening World Cup game.
The emergence of Eben Etzebeth as a second row enforcer has eased the Botha blow, while Pieter- Steph du Toit, Flip van der Merwe and Lood de Jager will all be knocking hard on the Bok door for selection for the World Cup.
Fourie’s retirement though leaves Meyer with a huge gap to fill. In spite of Fourie playing only three Tests under Meyer (on last year’s November tour of Europe), the 2007 World Cup winner was very much the favourite to reclaim the Bok No 13 jersey at next year’s tournament in England. Jan Serfontein, who’s been wearing the No 13 on his back for most of this year had done extremely well, and JP Pietersen, a specialist wing who has also featured in the midfield, were seen as stop-gap options until Fourie returned to the side.
That won’t now happen. It means the current midfield pairing of Serfontein and captain Jean de Villiers will be the one Meyer will back for the World Cup, with Pietersen as the back-up. Damian de Allende – a specialist inside centre – will also be in the running to fill the No 13 jersey, while some will feel JJ Engelbrecht and Juan de Jongh should again come into the reckoning. Lionel Mapoe and Jaco Taute could also find themselves in the World Cup mix should they have Super Rugby campaigns to remember.
The 72-times capped Fourie’s experience of having played at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups will be sorely missed. At his peak, Fourie was regarded the best No 13 in world rugby and his combination with De Villiers made them one of the most dangerous, feared and respected partnerships in the game.