Warrior Deon Fourie rewarded with Bok recall after All Blacks masterclass

Warrior Deon Fourie rewarded with Bok recall after All Blacks masterclass

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up veteran utility forward Deon Fourie to the squad for the upcoming Tests against the All Blacks in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.

The Stormers star was superlative in the Greatest Rivalry Tour opener against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Friday. He was immense at the breakdown, competing and earning two turnovers, made 12 tackles and set up Seabelo Senatla's try with a deft pass in his 61 minutes.

The 39-year-old has had a torrid time with injury, featuring in just seven games of the regular season before Friday night.

Fourie, who doubles up as a loose forward and hooker, will join up with the squad in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. His last Test for the Springboks was the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris.

The Rugby World Cup-winner will add invaluable experience to Erasmus' quality list of forwards for the historic series, which kicks off at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August.

The match will mark the first of four Tests between the teams in the inaugural series, which will also see the teams meet at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town (29 August), the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September), and the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore (12 September).

The Springboks travelled back to South Africa in two groups from Argentina on Sunday and Monday, with the last group scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

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