Joker in the pack
5 Feb 2010
Jaque Fourie’s optimistic outlook has allowed him to shrug off life’s disappointments.
‘Life is lekker’. It’s a philosophy that gets Jaque Fourie through the tough times, and it’s the power of positive thinking that makes him grateful for every minute he’s on the rugby field. Fourie is many things to many people: the best centre on the planet; the smartest defensive player in world rugby; one of the sport’s finest finishers with 28 Test tries to his name; and of course, the team jester.
In the IRB dictionary, you’d find all of the above under the entry Jaque Fourie.
‘I don’t see it as my role to keep morale high or anything like that,’ he tells SA Rugby magazine with an impish grin. ‘It’s just who I am. Life is lekker, and we’re blessed to have this opportunity to do what we love. I love to make people laugh, I’m a positive person and I love spreading that positivity around. I’ve never been into stand-up comedy or anything like that; I’m actually very shy around people I don’t know. When I’m with my friends and team-mates, I suppose I allow myself to get a bit crazy. I guess that positive vibe tends to rub off.’
For someone to fully appreciate the depth of Fourie’s optimistic and unwavering faith in his own ability, they need to understand that it’s been a tumultuous two years for the 26-year-old. There have been the euphoric highs of a series victory over the British & Irish Lions and the long-awaited claiming of the Tri-Nations title, but there’ve also been the grating lows of an acrimonious court battle with the Golden Lions and his ongoing struggle with injuries. It also took an injury to Adi Jacobs and the departure of his good mate Jean de Villiers to Dublin for him to reclaim his starting position, and yet, his attitude has remained constant throughout.
In 2008, a string of injuries prevented Fourie from re-entering the Bok startingfold. Jacobs, a Peter de Villiers favourite,took his opportunity and emerged as one of the star performers on South Africa’s end-of-year tour to the United Kingdom. Jacobs also started at No 13 in two of the three Tests against the Lions until his own injury problems cost him a place in the Tri-Nations. Like Jacobs, Fourie took his chance, and resumed his world-beating partnership with Jean de Villiers.
The former Stormers captain is currently playing for Irish club Munster and was supposedly ineligible for national selection, which is why Jacobs shifted to inside centre for the Boks’ recent tour of Europe, yet De Villiers was recalled when Jacobs got injured. Fourie told SA Rugby magazine in early 2009 that he wanted his No 13 jersey back, and stresses now that patience was a necessary virtue.
‘I’ve never thought of it as winning back my position, it was more a case of getting back to my best form. I’ve always welcomed the pressure that comes with competing for a starting position. It’s healthy for a team, and it ensures you don’t just sit on your arse and wait for on-field opportunities to come your way. It’s always easier to get into the Test team than it is to stay there.
‘Adi and I are both professional players capable of playing different positions. Adi did well on defence in the Test against France, I think the real issue was our attack. We couldn’t get on to the front foot because our scrum struggled and we were beaten at the breakdowns. Our partnership has potential.’
De Villiers and Fourie are recognised globally as Test rugby’s best centre pairing, even though their respective injuries often prevented them from starting together in major tournaments. The 2009 Tri-Nations was a clear example of why they are so celebrated, with De Villiers’s organisational strengths complementing Fourie’s line-cutting knack. Fourie should be frustrated with De Villiers’s decision to move to Ireland just when they had rediscovered that match-altering synergy, but he believes it’s something De Villiers needed to do in order to take his skills to the next level.
‘That was his decision and I have no problem with it. In early 2009, I was in talks with French club Clermont because I felt I needed a change of scenery. It’ll be good for Jean to experience a different culture and type of rugby. We all saw what the trip to Wales did for Percy Montgomery as a player, and I’m sure Jean is going to return to South Africa a better player for his Irish experience. We agreed it’s all about challenging yourself.’
It’s the reason Fourie decided to move to the Stormers. The Lions haven’t won the Currie Cup since 1999 and have finished in the Super 14’s bottom four since the Cats franchise split in 2006. The Lions weren’t willing to release Fourie given that he had another year to serve on his contract, which prompted Fourie to turn to his lawyer Frikkie Erasmus, who incidentally is the Stormers’ commercial manager. On examining Fourie’s contract, Erasmus discovered the player was employed as a ‘technical analyst’ and that the contract was not legally binding.
Fourie played his rugby for Hoërskool Monument and the Lions invested a great deal of time and money in his development. Chief executive Manie Reyneke said it was a slap in the face when he decided to cut his stay short, as the union had stood by him through every one of his injury setbacks.
This stirred a debate of professionalism versus integrity. A player must do what’s best for himself financially, as sporting careers aren’t as long as they used to be, but on the other hand you’re only as good as your word, and a contract – legally binding or not – should be honoured.
Fourie believes the Lions missed the point. He was clear when he said he no longer wanted to represent a union that won’t reach its former heights while he’s still in his prime. He’s not ungrateful, but he didn’t appreciate their relentless efforts to keep him in what was essentially a losing environment.
‘I don’t want to badmouth the Lions, but what happened towards the end of last season was very sad,’ he says. ‘I really didn’t want to play there anymore, but they went to extreme lengths to ensure I remained at the union. They made it as uncomfortable for me as possible by taking the matter to court. That was their mentality.
‘For me, there had been no changes at the Lions and I told them I’d served my time and wanted to move on. But they didn’t see it like that. It was a sad way to end the Lions part of my career.
‘I can understand where they were coming from. They had just appointed a new CEO, hired a new coach and put plans in place for the future. But it was too late for me, my time was up and I wanted bigger and better things.’
Life wasn’t so lekker for Fourie after the Tri-Nations. He was unable to secure an early release to join Western Province for the back end of the Currie Cup. No matter the outcome of the court case, the Lions were going to lose Fourie one way or another. If they had won the legal battle, they’d have kept a player who didn’t want to be there.
WP and the Stormers are only slightly better off than the Lions when it comes to achievement. They last won the Currie Cup in 2001 and haven’t made the Super Rugby play-offs since 2004. Senior professional coach Rassie Erasmus feels 2010 could be the year they crack the top four and has made some big signings in Fourie and Bok wing Bryan Habana, but it could be a while before these players find their feet in the Cape systems. Nevertheless, Fourie feels they are on the right track.
‘Like the Lions, the Stormers struggle because they don’t have the players,’ he explains. ‘You look at the Sharks and Bulls who are always right up there in Super Rugby and the Currie Cup because they each have at least 15 Boks at their unions. To think the Bulls can start a match with as many as 15 internationals is scary.
‘The Lions only had one or two Boks in their side and it was a struggle. You’d have to play out of your skin to get close to winning a game, and I was fed up with that.
‘The Stormers have some exciting players in their squad and have the potential to challenge for the Super 14 title and win the Currie Cup. It’s a bonus that Bryan is coming down too, and I think there’s a fantastic mix of experience and promising youngsters. I also think I’m the right kind of player for their game plan.’
It’s an open secret that De Villiers will reassess his future with Munster in early 2010. If he opts for a release, we may see the potent pair reunited in Stormers colours in the build-up to the World Cup in New Zealand.
‘When I spoke to him he did say he was eyeing a World Cup return,’ Fourie confirms, unable to hide his effervescent optimism. ‘That would make for a lekker Stormers backline. Peter Grant, Jean, myself, Bryan, Conrad Jantjes, Joe Pietersen – it all sounds very exciting.
‘But that’s thinking a bit too far ahead. The year 2009 was a big one for me, but there have been a few smaller sideshows I’d rather forget. I’ve had some niggles and the biggest disappointment was the Lions court case. Hopefully in 2010 there won’t be any distractions and I can focus on my rugby.’
By Jon Cardinelli
– This article first appeared in the Jan-Feb issue of SA Rugby magazine. Click here to subscribe
134 Comments
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5 Feb 2010, 14:27 pm
Jaque really does seem to be enjoying his rugby down here…
expect great things from him…
and watch Habs scoring rate take an upwards curve…
5 Feb 2010, 14:29 pm
@Tacitus: @42
who said it was ‘all about Habana’ ? not me.
Im merely stating the obvious. He has way more skills available than merely waiting for opposition mistakes/intercepts. When the Auckland/Blues team of yesteryear had JK or Inga or Jonah on the end of the backline, they invloved them at every opportunity, whether as decoys, creators or simply finishers. Same with Goldie Wilson at Otago.
Yes, of course its about the team. But even when the Boks had periods of total dominance from their pack in 2009 (never sustained for 80mins, but most certainly periods of 20-30mins), then they still werent scoring heaps of tries. Im sure teams like ABs or France, if they had similar periods of dominance, their wingers would be scoring in bulk and the winning margins would have been greater. So despite having a dominating pack, the Boks could still have lost games when they shouldnt have. Mark my words, they wont keep winning in 2010 simply by Morne hoofing it to the corners and Fourie/JdV/Habana waiting for mistakes. Too easy to work out. Dont believe me ? watch the replays from Dublin and Toulouse.
5 Feb 2010, 14:31 pm
@FireStraeuli
What did u think of Jeff Wilson?
5 Feb 2010, 14:32 pm
@Black Panther: Nail on the head comes to mind but the Bulls fans will never agree
5 Feb 2010, 14:32 pm
“The best centre on the planet”
Find me one person outside of South Africa who agrees with this and I’ll eat my hat….
“the smartest defensive player in world rugby”
You can not be serious. Defence is not all about never being breached. The best can take it to another level. If you want to see an example take a look at Thierry Dusatoir. Not content with holding the line the guy goes into every tackle like its his last…See World Cup quarter final where, as most now know, he made more tackles than the entire All Blacks side….
“one of the sport’s finest finishers with 28 Test tries to his name”
Fair enough…
5 Feb 2010, 14:32 pm
Roberts and Fourie was a pretty good center combo for the Barbarians also.
5 Feb 2010, 14:33 pm
@ufo: @51
yeah, until winter kicks in and those midweek practices in the sludge become a reality
8)
5 Feb 2010, 14:33 pm
@mshiniwami:
the Aussie commentator…????
5 Feb 2010, 14:33 pm
@FireStraeuli: are you swearing? (#37)
what happened to your protests on the sicknote thread?
5 Feb 2010, 14:34 pm
@Charlie:
So?
Your point?
5 Feb 2010, 14:36 pm
@charo:
Hardly any different to Jozi at those freezing winter practices…??
I’m sure we can find Jaque plenty to do to warm the cockles of his heart…!
5 Feb 2010, 14:37 pm
@mshiniwami: Well besides him being an AB which already makes me not be a fan of him, i sort of remember him as being a little anoying, but I can’t remember if he was arrogant and whether that was Fitzies department only.
5 Feb 2010, 14:43 pm
@FireStraeuli: @62
aaaah, Loftus ’96.
WILSON !
5 Feb 2010, 14:43 pm
@the peanut gallery: Ummm, No. ‘Boks’ is me actualy not swearing. But if you felt offended I appologise and I hope you find someone to program the ‘user defined family filter with selective input’ and we’ll all be able to block the comments with profanities and blasphemies and racialy motivated words, and those talking against Smit as TH, and anyone that’s a blou nul. LOL
5 Feb 2010, 14:45 pm
@Black Panther: If I’m not mistaken that was the incident which the Luke Watson loftus saga was compared to?
5 Feb 2010, 14:45 pm
@Charlie:
Am I not?Thats news to me bud…
Black Panther:
Lmao…Dont drink,not dellusional neither…Hehehe
But seriously,in terms of the complete skillset of an all round rugby player….Even u would have to conceede Smith is more complete than McCaw.Ive seen Smith pull of cut out passes to put backs into space than would make Larkham proud,seen him put boot to ball for wingers to score sublime chip chase tries,reserve passes etc and still do the hard yards of a flank forward.A better link player than McCaw-who is not too shabby himself.Where McCaw beats Smith is crucial turnovers,slowing down ball,lineout option.
MCCaw is more effective player in what he does,Smith in footballing terms I still believe has the wider skills set and more complete player.Not better
@ufo:
??? The great AB back.Goldie
5 Feb 2010, 14:47 pm
@FireStraeuli: oh, i thought “wanks” was a swear word. as in “arrogant wanks”.
silly me
5 Feb 2010, 14:52 pm
@Black Panther:
Goldie….sublime footballer…
Had everything for back….complete.Hardly any weakenesses..plus had arrogance and confidence to boot.The dude was arrogance personified but could back it up everyday of the week and then SOME!
Cullen,Wilson,Umaga/Lomu….A joy to watch..Goldie in my view undoubtebly the most talented in group.
96 Loftus
Was that when he scored a double and put his hand over his mouth in a mocking fashion of disbelief…Destroyed the Boks that day.
Do u remember when he gave Roff the outside in 2001..Roff couldnt get around him with almost 20min of space…chased him down and stripped him off the ball and got up and waved to the crowd…SHOWMAN
5 Feb 2010, 14:52 pm
@the peanut gallery: No, dont think it is…but I’ll be sure to sensor myself in future before using any more bordeline words….happy
5 Feb 2010, 14:53 pm
@mshiniwami:
good question… glad you asked…
Thing is… these white guys all look the same to me…!!
(ref BlackPanther @ 41…)
5 Feb 2010, 14:55 pm
@mshiniwami:
Of course knew you were reffering to Goldie… just teasing BlackPanther…
Jeff Wilson was a great player… thinking player with buckets of talent… good cricketer too… Played for the Black Caps…
5 Feb 2010, 15:07 pm
I take it he was only joking then when he went on record to say he was the best Outside Centre in the world?
5 Feb 2010, 15:07 pm
@ufo:
LOL
Was flabbagasted there for a sec,anyone that doesnt know Wilson is as good as retarded in the rugby sense.lmao
Wilson played backetball for NZ,a pointguard
freak
5 Feb 2010, 15:11 pm
Oh my Jaques you have come far from the young u/10 that had to be transported from RAM to Glenharvey by a teacher, I am taking my hat of to the act that you made the big time.
I now have one fear that my 10 year old son who idolises you will take the same attitude of loyalty that you have. You say that ‘I don’t want to badmouth the Lions, but what happened towards the end of last season was very sad,’ he says. ‘I really didn’t want to play there anymore, but they went to extreme lengths to ensure I remained at the union. They made it as uncomfortable for me as possible by taking the matter to court. That was their mentality”
Well you signed the contract and read it, and through the request of yourself and your agent deliberately asked that no amount or value be added.
I will take the page from your history and teach my son about integrity and honesty, and use you as a bad example. I wish you all the best in your career and may our paths never cross as you have lost many a fan that used to look up to you.
5 Feb 2010, 15:12 pm
@FireStraeuli: @65
really, did Luke score two blinding tries of individual brilliance to tip his team in to a historical Series victory ?!?
@mshiniwami: @66
Not even within cooee.
Both brilliant nevertheless.
@mshiniwami:
incredible athlete, Goldie, unbelievable ! Sublime skillset.
Yes, arrogant. When he did that to the Loftus crowd, Pinetree Meads must have blushed, most un-AB.
But that 1 chip-ahead-and-chase try incred, only surpassed by DCs vs Lions ’05.
My favourite memories EVER come from ’96, nothing else compares. Not RWC, Not Grand Slams, TriN not even close.
Fitzy pumping his fist on the AB tryline after 10mins under the kosh. Sensational. I have that picture on my study wall.
5 Feb 2010, 15:12 pm
@mshiniwami: And we all remember a certain player on his debut knocking the ball out of Wilsons arms when he was over the tryline , enabling the wallabies to win the Bledisloe – mr gregan
5 Feb 2010, 15:14 pm
@stew: @76
incorrect spelling mfraid.
its Grogan.
5 Feb 2010, 15:16 pm
@Black Panther: Is that irritating midget playing in Japan now ?
5 Feb 2010, 15:18 pm
@mshiniwami:
freak indeed…
5 Feb 2010, 15:22 pm
@Black Panther:
Maybe not at internatinal level…
but…
Big Vic Matfield put in a sublime chip and chase to outsprint the defence for the Bulls in 2001 against the Tahs…
awesome skills for a forward…
5 Feb 2010, 15:33 pm
He most certainly is the best outside centre on the planet. O’Driscol and Mortlock fight it out for 2nd. Hope he does well in the Cape.
5 Feb 2010, 15:46 pm
ricky chipped and chased to score a try and beat the ab’s at home.
wouldn’t his skills are sublime though
5 Feb 2010, 15:58 pm
Players like Jaque gets me excited about the stormers prospects.
5 Feb 2010, 16:16 pm
@stew: @78
I think so. Maybe he’s a player/coach ? Who cares what happens in Japan, the Purgatory country of World rygby ?
@ufo: @80
that was a corker, tis true. For a big man, he has unbelievable skills. I would say Ali Williams, pre doble-archilles snap, had an even wider skillset for a giraffe.
5 Feb 2010, 16:19 pm
If a contract is not legally binding, it’s not a contract.
5 Feb 2010, 16:25 pm
“Adi and I are both professional players capable of playing different positions. Adi did well on defence in the Test against France, I think the real issue was our attack. We couldn’t get on to the front foot because our scrum struggled and we were beaten at the breakdowns. Our partnership has potential”
Hhmm!!, interesting observation.
5 Feb 2010, 20:21 pm
@Black Panther: 75…yeah well…after losing the WC(again) in ’95 I guess a little fist pumping was in order…
6 Feb 2010, 00:37 am
You’ll find many South African players who are indeed the best in the world in a position won’t get recognition. I think it’s due to the world having a pure hate towards those “Racist” thuggish South Africans who play dirty to win all the time.
Jaque Fourie, with limited time in the Lions tour (due to the quota system) changed the outcome. Something BOD couldn’t do. That there is evidence enough.
6 Feb 2010, 01:20 am
@Black Panther:
@42……Habanna’s try tally may improve if he played for the AB’s but he would not have a WC Medal!!
6 Feb 2010, 01:23 am
@Kobus Kitty:
Gee, and what type of people do you think gives them that image ?
@Storm outta hell:
RWCs aint got nothing on spanking your main rivals in a Series on their own soil. Something the Boks havent done in 73 years.
6 Feb 2010, 01:26 am
@Storm outta hell:
They pump more than their own fists mate…… eish!
6 Feb 2010, 03:18 am
@Black Panther:
Winning this years Tri-Nations and clean sweeping the All Blacks 3-0 doesn’t come close to winning the world cup. You wouldn’t know though, because you probably weren’t born when the All Blacks won their world cup which didn’t include the Springboks.
Anyways, I feel silly counting the first two world cups. So basically New Zealand has never won the world cup.
6 Feb 2010, 03:24 am
@Kobus Kitty: This year you have not won a thing.
6 Feb 2010, 05:04 am
@Kobus Kitty: and still the ledger reads 42-33.. so one good year doesnt make a vintage, will they do that this year, not if they stick to the same kick and chase philosophy, we seen how quickly it was dismantled up north
Scotland have beaten your Boks 4 times throughout history.. and theyve beaten the ABs the same number of times as Ireland, a grand tally of 0.. would love to see the same tally of Scotland/Ireland vs the Boks… care to enlighten me?
6 Feb 2010, 05:30 am
@poppa69:
They can play the kick chase against anyone. But a kick is only as good as its chase. De villiers, Spies and Smith were some of the biggest chasers in the TN. They were all missing in the EOYT (besides De villiers who played 20 mins against Ireland)
I thought the Springboks showed they can play another gameplan, remember what they did to the Wallabies in Perth? or did you forget?
Why are you bringing up what Scotland has done? I don’t care about them. I could say that Wales have only beaten the Springboks once, while they’ve beaten the All Blacks three times… but I don’t give a flying kak.
World Cups
Springboks 2
All Blacks 0 (We don’t count the first two)
6 Feb 2010, 05:33 am
@Kobus Kitty: “(We don’t count the first two)”
We? Are you The King. We. wtf.
You probably do not count anything between 1964 and 1992.
6 Feb 2010, 05:35 am
By the way, have you seen Invictus yet? Clint does a wonderful job on showing how much superior the Boks are to the All Blacks.
6 Feb 2010, 05:38 am
@Nils:
How can one call itself a “World Champion” if it didn’t actually beat the world?
Come, lets all just agree that the Springboks would have won the first two world cups, had they been invited.
6 Feb 2010, 05:39 am
@Kobus Kitty: youre not going down the road of using Big Hits line of “not our strongest team” Kobus? as Ive said, the Boks were by far the best team in the 3Ns last year, but if you think the same gameplan is going to be as effective, well you are setting yourself up for a fall… The mark of a true champion team is to evolve and stay top of the heap, not like 08 when you came crashing down..
yep, I also remember what the wallabies did to SA in Brisbane, do you ?
you dont count the first two? funny that, have a look at the trophy if you get a chance, you will see NZ as the very first name, followed by Aus and ratified by the governing body of rugby, so Id say it counted…
just hope to see you here later on this year if the kick chase plan doesnt work…
oh yes, and the ledger still reads 42-33, so you could win 3-0 for the next two years and STILL be behind… what is the win/loss record against each other since isolation? Id say it would be a fair fair difference, does that count?
6 Feb 2010, 05:40 am
@Kobus Kitty: Are SA “the world”? No. Knowing Bok poor record away from home sweet home (and sweet home referees), I think they would have crashed out in quarters/semis both times, of course, had they qualified.
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