Springboks call up evergreen utility forward Fourie for All Blacks series

South Africa has recalled 39-year-old utility forward Deon Fourie for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, almost three years after his standout performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final win. Fourie, capable of playing as either hooker or loose-forward, has not played a test since coming on as a substitute in Paris following an injury to Bongi Mbonambi.

However, his performance against New Zealand on Friday, his first back from a long-term injury, was exceptional. Coach John Dobson praised Fourie's work-rate, noting his incredible ability to make three tackles in 15 seconds, two of which were crucial in preventing tries. The Springboks will face New Zealand in three home tests starting on August 22 in Johannesburg, with a fourth game in Baltimore in the United States.