Deon Fourie is somebody who relishes a problem and so they don’t come a lot greater than a Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Remaining towards Munster.
Having missed the semi-final win towards Connacht with a hamstring harm, the strong openside flanker is about to return with renewed starvation and tenacity to compete within the decider on the DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Fourie is a metal beam reinforcing the Stormers breakdown, and his relentless poaching and dedication to disrupting momentum make him a useful asset within the defending champions’ quest for victory.
The 36-year-old was a part of the staff that received the inaugural URC, and capped off a spectacular marketing campaign with a Man of the Match efficiency towards the Vodacom Bulls in Cape City.
Acknowledging Munster’s formidable status, Fourie is worked up to check himself towards a high quality facet that has constantly delivered distinctive performances all through 2022-23.
Having missed the Stormers’ two earlier defeats towards Munster, this week’s duel will likely be a big second for the veteran free ahead as he seeks to depart his mark towards formidable opponents.
“I missed out on Munster this 12 months, and final 12 months I missed a sport once we performed them over at Thomond Park after I broke my cheekbone,” he stated. “So I haven’t performed Munster in my profession but, and undoubtedly wanting ahead to testing myself towards a high quality facet like them.
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“I feel their file speaks for itself, particularly this 12 months, so it’ll be fascinating.”
A key one-on-one battle to look at on Saturday is Fourie’s doubtless face-off towards Munster captain and seasoned Eire worldwide, Peter O’Mahony.
“Peter O’Mahony is a improbable participant, he has been taking part in for Eire for a very long time, he’s wonderful,” Fourie stated. “I don’t actually see him as an out-and-out fetcher; a man like Jack Morgan from final 12 months, he was fairly good, I feel he received the [URC] award for essentially the most turnovers final 12 months.
“However, O’Mahony, he’s only a nuisance at each ruck and typically he’ll get that poach, however he’s at all times simply there and in your face and disrupting rucks. In order that’ll be a pleasant problem, attempting to comprise him.”
Moreover, towering lock RG Snyman presents a well-known foe for the DHL Stormers. A World Cup-winning Springbok, Snyman’s physicality and all-round abilities pose a menace that Fourie is raring to neutralise.
“I’m undecided I’ve ever performed towards RG … he’s an enormous human being and his offload and working sport is excellent.
“For us to cease that will likely be a problem. What he brings to that Munster facet is a component of unpredictability.”
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