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Deon Fourie explains ‘dark place’ pains he battled in World Cup final

(Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Veteran Springboks forward Deon Fourie has revealed he found himself in a “dark place” trying to make the finish of Saturday night’s Rugby World Cup final win over the All Blacks.

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The back-rower was named on the bench as the back-up hooker for Bongeni Mbonambi, but his second-half ‘bomb squad’ role was accelerated as he instead became a fifth-minute injury sub and went on to play the remaining 75 minutes.

Mbonambi was hurt in a cleanout by the yellow carded Shannon Frizzell and it meant the 37-year-old Fourie, the Stormers back-rower who isn’t a specialist hooker, was thrown into the maelstrom of what became an epic decider that the Springboks eventually won 12-11.

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    The duty that was required took its toll on the veteran’s body. “It wasn’t part of the plan,” he said. “He [Mbonambi] was due to do the game but accidents happen.

    “We thought we would given him a few minutes to see how he goes but luckily I have played a few games in the World Cup. I came through the 75 minutes.

    Set Plays

    2
    Scrums
    11
    100%
    Scrum Win %
    91%
    22
    Lineout
    10
    91%
    Lineout Win %
    60%
    5
    Restarts Received
    6
    100%
    Restarts Received Win %
    100%

    “It was tough on the body, a few cramps and all that stuff. But at the end of the day we have got the medal around our neck which is all that counts.

    “I was tired and I was in a dark place. At that stage of the game both my hammies [hamstrings] were cramping and my calfs were cramping and I felt bad around my shoulder, but I knew I couldn’t go off as Mbongeni was already injured and we needed a hooker. Bit the bullets and luckily we got to the end.”

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    What kept him going in that dark place? “All the messages and videos and stuff we got from back home was definitely inspiring.”

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    Comments

    5 Comments
    J
    Jon 502 days ago

    He was our 3rd hooker to put it into perspective - a freakin’ warrior and the only bok who didn’t tackle with his face apparently in the final

    B
    BeegMike 504 days ago

    Tackleberry is a machine!

    A
    Alastair 504 days ago

    No doubt that depowered our scrum and lineout. But he contributed on the field in many other important ways. No mean feat for a loose forward at his age, for 78 minutes, holding the scrum.

    C
    Chris 504 days ago

    He was our Stephen Donald

    L
    Luke 505 days ago

    What a legend. Also put in over 20 tackles

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