Relying on Fourie

Relying on Fourie

9 May 2008

Jaque Fourie’s return to the Lions will bolster them, but his team-mates mustn’t rely on him to do their jobs.

Coach Loffie Eloff has constantly harped on how different their season would’ve been had Fourie’s guiding hand been present throughout the campaign, but the other players must still be held accountable for the way they play tomorrow. Fourie can’t be expected to perform miracles in his first Super 14 match of the season and transform a misfiring unit into a devastating one.

Fourie’s leadership and presence will be massive, but he has acknowledged that numbers 9 to 15 all have to do their jobs if they are to break the Lions’ attacking drought (the team has only scored five tries in their past four matches).

“To play at that level [Super Rugby] there are no juniors or seniors in a team, we are all professional rugby players and we need to do our jobs. I will be there to help with decision-making and to hopefully bring calmness, but all of us must perform as a unit,” Fourie told keo.co.za.

Fourie’s re-introduction to the Super 14 will be a tough one against a potent backline, but he has tackled Kiwi opposition many times before so he should be well-informed on how to counter the Chiefs. He and the rest of his team-mates have a plan to put the likes of Dwayne Sweeney, Lelia Masaga and Sitiveni Sivivatu on the back foot, it’s just a matter of putting these ideas into effect.

“They don’t like it if you play in their faces – they are physical but we have to match that by tackling them as hard as we can. They’ll probably be going for a bonus point straight away so we have to put them under further pressure with our play,” said Fourie.

Fourie has been frustrated at his enforced lack of involvement this season due to a stomach injury and is eager at having an active role in tomorrow’s result.

“It’s been difficult watching the games without being able to do anything, so I’ve been excited the whole week knowing I’ll be able to make a difference. Hopefully I will make an impression,” he said.

Fourie will undoubtedly have an influence on the Lions performance, but the 14 other players will also have to imitate his lead if they are to compete with the Chiefs.

By Grant Ball


34 Comments

  • 1.Brook M.: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:03 pm

    Welcome back JF. Hope You can make a difference…

  • 2.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:04 pm

    Hierdie Leeus het ‘n arend nodig om te wen. ‘n Mossie is te min.

  • 3.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:04 pm

    And the first one said to the second one there ,
    I hope you are having fun…….

  • 4.cane: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:05 pm

    Make that”, “the second said to the first one there…..

  • 5.katman: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:17 pm

    Fourie outside Venter could just do the trick.

    Lions by a dozen or so.

  • 6.Pete77: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:30 pm

    Fourie is an awesome player but to expect him to perform at his best in his first match back against one fo the strongest backlines in the S14 is ridiculous!

  • 7.cab: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:30 pm

    Good to see him back.

  • 8.Kameeltjie: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:43 pm

    #6 Pete77: I agree with you. I dunno if he’ll be able keep up with the pace of S14 rugby. Can you just imagine the wieght of expectation on his shoulders!!!

  • 9.malei: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:49 pm

    I think Fourie’s stomach injury was worsened during the season from laughing at the Lions performance.

  • 10.Boelie: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:50 pm

    Perfect introduction back for Fourie.
    Two games against easy opposition to get himself into some match form and he will be ready for us for the semis.

  • 11.puff: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 14:56 pm

    Let’s play a bit of fantasy and combine the best of the Lions and Cheetahs and see if we come up with a decent squad…

    1 Heinke
    2 Strauss
    3 Van Der Linde
    4 Duncan
    5 Pieterse
    6 Grobelaar
    7 Smith
    8 Van Niekerk
    9 Vermaak
    10 Andre Pretorius
    11 Nokwe
    12 Bosman
    13 Fourie
    14 Ludik
    15 Fortuin
    16 Du Preez
    17 Strauss
    18 Caldo
    19 Alberts
    20 Franco Van Der Merwe
    21 Brussouw
    22 Joubert
    23 Vermeulen
    24 Oelschig
    25 Potgieter
    26 Jonker
    27 Meyer
    28 Jaco Pretorius
    29 Frederichs
    30 Daniller

    What do you lot think?

    Not much in the way of transformation, is there?

  • 12.superstormer: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:07 pm

    i dont rate j.fourie at all, never have and never will! he has never created a try in the bok jersey, not in the same class as joubert,fleck and gerber

  • 13.superstormer: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:12 pm

    he has scored tries in the bok jersey but only rounding off, lucky *******

  • 14.coma: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:20 pm

    #13 superstormer: agreed, but he has also never pulled a jorrie either

  • 15.Boelie: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:29 pm

    Superstormer :
    How can you mention joubert and fleck in the same breath as Gerber.

  • 16.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:29 pm

    lat ek sien as wat of wie is ek ingelok

  • 17.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:30 pm

    Nee hel laat ek maar terugaan na my regte nick die stormers raak nou boring

  • 18.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:35 pm

    huh

  • 19.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:39 pm

    #18 waneergaanstormersophouwen?:
    Nee man

  • 20.spuddy: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:39 pm

    Come on JF. Make the difference and give us a win. Lions please make my weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 21.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:40 pm

    #19 waneergaanstormersophouwen?:
    My psigiater se ek mag nie meer met myself praat nie

  • 22.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:41 pm

    #20 spuddy: Yes please stop playing like potato heads

  • 23.DangerousDave: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:47 pm

    CATS 22 man Squad:

    1. Heinke van der Merwe [Lions]
    2. Adriaan Strauss [Cheetahs]
    3. CJ van der Linde [Cheetahs]
    4. Rory Duncan [Cheetahs]
    5. Barend Pieterse [Cheetahs]
    6. Heinrich Brussow [Cheetahs]
    7. Juan Smith [Cheetahs]
    8. Joe van Niekerk [Lions]
    9. Noel Oelschig [Cheetahs]
    10. Jaco van Schalkwyk [Lions]
    11. Jongi Nokwe [Cheetahs]
    12. Meyer Bosman [Cheetahs]
    13. Jaque Fourie [Lions]
    14. Jaco Pretorius [Lions]
    15. Earl Rose [Lions]

    16. Wian du Preez [Cheetahs]
    17. JC van Rensburg [Lions]
    18. Gerhard Mostert [Lions]
    19. Duane Vermeulen [Cheeetahs]
    20. Jano Vermaak [Lions]
    21. Conrad Barnard [Lions]
    22. Bevin Fortuin [Cheetahs]

  • 24.DangerousDave: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:49 pm

    Doubt that Lions will come close, even though I wish they would…
    I say bonus point victory to the Chiefs!

  • 25.katman: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:51 pm

    #12 superstormer: Joubert and Fleck, along with De Wet Barry, Japie Mulder, Hennie le Roux, Helgaard & Pieter Muller, Etienne Botha and a few others were all solid centres who would never let you down. But Danie Gerber and Jaque Fourie were/are outstanding centres. Fourie is the best outside centre in the world currently. Don’t let a few months’ injury-enforced absence cloud your memory.

  • 26.superstormer: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:57 pm

    katman, nope ive never rated him,there is a better centre in every country better than him, we only rate him because we have no other 13 playing in that position week in and week in out

  • 27.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 15:58 pm

    Overall Performance

    Cats Played Won Lost Draw Pts F Pts A Tries F Tries A League Pts % Lost
    (1998-2006) 103 27 74 2 2427 3318 253 384 161 71.84

  • 28.waneergaanstormersophouwen?: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 16:00 pm

    Most Log Points NOT to reach the Semi-finals
    40 Brumbies 2007
    40 Chiefs 2007

  • 29.leeanthonyw: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 16:05 pm

    superstormer – I think you are deluded my friend. Name me a current 13 that can out tackle or out wit Fourie? Mortlock is the only one that comes close. Fourie almost scores a try a game for the Boks and his tackling is sheer poetry. He is the comlpete no 13

  • 30.puff: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 16:20 pm

    Fourie is outstanding. Only Mortlock and O’Driscoll, when on form, are in his league.

    My Cats 22:

    1 Heinke
    2 Strauss
    3 Van Der Linde
    4 Duncan
    5 Pieterse
    6 Grobelaar
    7 Smith
    8 Van Niekerk
    9. Vermaak
    10 Pretorius
    11 Nokwe
    12 Bosman
    13 Fourie
    14 Ludik
    15 Fortuin
    16 Caldo
    17 Strauss
    18 Alberts
    19 Brussouw
    20 Vermeulen
    21 Oelschig
    22 Jaco P/Meyer

  • 31.katman: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 16:24 pm

    #30 puff: That’s not a kak team at all. Perhaps I should reconsider my views on reuniting the Cats.

  • 32.HulkSmash: Reply to this comment
    9 May 2008, 17:45 pm

    Superstormer, I’m afraid I can’t agree with you on J Fourie either. Fourie is one of the most complete 13′s in the world, perhaps only shaded by Mortlock. The reason he scores so may tries for SA is because he runs the best lines, all he needs is a playmaking 12. De Villiers and Fourie set to become best centre pairing in the world in 2008

  • 33.Insomniac: Reply to this comment
    10 May 2008, 02:18 am

    Fourie is great!
    have been waiting so long to c venter playing next to him. Andre Pretorius at 10. J Pretorius at wing in place of Benjamin. it will make a real good backline.

  • 34.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    10 May 2008, 07:44 am

    “De Villiers and Fourie set to become best centre pairing in the world in 2008″

    Hell if Barry and Joubert could do it in 2004… so too can the above…

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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