VIDEO: 'People will pay money to play with Brannas'
Deon André Fourie may only have 13 Tests to his credit, but he will be the subject of legend and lore in years to come.
Fourie, affectionately known by his nickname Brannas, is a cause célèbre after his World Cup heroics.
Taking to the field after just five minutes for the injured Bongi Mbonambi, the then 37-year-old played the bulk of the historic 12-11 win of the World Cup Final victory over New Zealand at Stade de France, in Paris.
Add the more than 300 first-class games for Western Province, Stormers, Lyon and Grenoble in the past three decades, and you begin to understand why he is admired and valued by coaches and teammates alike.
Injuries have taken their toll on his ageing body.
Still, at the Cape Town stadium on Saturday, he will make his comeback from another affliction, scheduled to come off the bench when Western Province take on the Pumas in a Currie Cup Round Six encounter.
The veteran, who will turn 39 next month, has recovered from a broken tibia.
Playing in his 99th game for Province, his role in the youthful Currie Cup team will be far more important than any impact he can to the outcome of the match.
He will be a mentor to the talented group of next-generation players.
WP coach Labeeb Levy explained that Fourie has already come up with some of his ‘own ideas’ for the game.
(WATCH as WP coach Labeeb Levy speaks about the plan going forward for World Cup winner Deon Fourie ….)
“Brannas has been good for the group,” Levy said of Fourie’s arrival at training this week.
“We can use him as an example of someone who has played at the pinnacle and captained Western Province [to Currie Cup victory in 2012].
“He was also involved in the United Rugby Championship we won [in 2022], and he is a World Cup winner.
“We could lean on his expertise to keep the group positive, which was important,” Levy said about the winless WP outfit.
While the game is part of a bigger ‘return to play’ plan for the URC, there is also the not-so-insignificant fact of his 99th WP appearance.
The coach said they will lean heavily on Fourie and use him as a mentor for the youngsters.
“We want the group to tap into that experience, composure, and dealing with pressure.
“You can’t buy that.”
It is clear he will get his 100th WP cap in the Western Cape derby against Boland Cavaliers in front of his Cape Town fans next week.
The mentoring, according to Levy, is happening “naturally”.
“You have 18-year-olds like Riley [Norton] and Oliver [Reid] that can benefit from that.
“People will pay money to play with Brannas, or that experience, and here they are getting that opportunity.
“They are relishing it, and it is happening naturally.
“It is still a team game, and it won’t be him alone getting that win. It will require a team effort.”
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