Siya Kolisi reveals Springboks have new nickname for record-breaking Deon Fourie
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Record-breaker.
Siya Kolisi has revealed the brilliant new nickname the Springboks have given Deon Fourie after the veteran made history against the All Blacks.
Fourie became the oldest player ever to represent South Africa when he started at hooker in Saturday’s 33-26 victory over New Zealand in Cape Town.
The 39-year-old was only promoted to the starting XV as part of Rassie Erasmus’ dramatic late front-row reshuffle, with Malcolm Marx dropping to the bench.
Fourie produced another typically industrious display before making way for Marx after 35 minutes, with Kolisi revealing afterwards just how highly the veteran is regarded within the Springbok camp.
“Brannas – we call him Grandpa now! We’re very happy for him as a group,” Kolisi said.
“He’s shown that age is nothing but a number. He’s got the hunger and the fight in him, and the guys believe in him.”
It was a landmark afternoon for several members of the Springbok squad, with Pieter-Steph du Toit earning his 100th cap and Ox Nché reaching 50 appearances.
Kolisi also paid tribute to both players after the victory.
“I’m so happy for Ox. He’s become one of the best players in the world,” he said.
“Pieter-Steph has come back through two ACLs. I remember visiting him in hospital with his leg cut open and look where he is today.
“He’s a player we love in the team, and he leaves everything on the field, so I’m just so happy that we could do it for him and South Africa as well.”
South Africa’s victory leaves the four-Test series level at 1-1 following New Zealand’s win in Johannesburg last weekend.
Attention now switches to the third Test at FNB Stadium, with Kolisi admitting another huge occasion awaits in Soweto.
“Next week is going to be big too. Some of us will be playing in Soweto for the first time, so it’s going to be really special,” Kolisi said.
“It’s already hard playing the All Blacks once, but playing them four times is really difficult.”
