‘DIS DIEP LEKKER’

DON’T fall. That is the first thing that went through Stormers prop Neethling Fouche’s gedagte when he run out onto the Cape Town Stadium field to make his unofficial debut as a Springbok in Saturday’s 54-7 win against the Barbarians.     

Fouche, selected as tighthead replacement for fellow rookie Asenathi Ntlabakanye, and the Bok team were running out of the tunnel ahead of the start of the game, when the latter slipped and landed on his backside.

And of not making skandes in his first run onto the pitch in green and gold, Fouche said after the game: “I just didn’t want to fall like my prop mate Asa [Ntlabakanye] did. I don’t know if you guys saw that – maybe go and check the highlights.”

Jokes aside, Fouche revealed that he was almost in trane at the beginning of the game, with his family there to watch the 32-year-old realise a dream that started as a kid playing “bulletjie rugby” with his mates at school.

Fouche told the Daily Voice: “There is a saying in Afrikaans that goes: ‘Dis nie net lekker nie, maar diep lekker’.

“This whole week for me has just been a blur after hearing that I will be playing and up until the moment I stood there singing the national anthem.

“I am getting goosebumps as I am talking to you about it. At the moment, the Springboks are the best team in the world and for me to say that I am part of that story, is something that I can’t put into words.”

Reflecting on the long journey he has walked to finally crack a nod at the Boks, the front-rower added: “When I started at the Stormers, I think many people thought of me as Frans Malherbe’s stunt double.  

“But in time I started carving my own story, putting in the work with that small voice in my head telling me a call-up to the Boks can still happen for me.

“And the lekker I am feeling, just feels so worth it.”

Of wanting more after klapping the BaaBaas and making that official debut, Fouche wysed: As Rassie Erasmus tells us, you must never think about yourself… I want to make sure I contribute to this team in any way I can, because every day that I am here is a privilege.”