Different class
13 Jun 2011
GAVIN RICH, writing in SA Rugby magazine, says Jaque Fourie is staking a strong claim to be the world’s best outside centre.
Two years ago the Hurricanes beat the Lions 38-32 in a Super 14 game at Ellis Park and afterwards All Blacks centre Conrad Smith stepped up to claim his Man of the Match award. Smith had scored two tries for the Hurricanes and his intelligent play in his team’s No 13 jersey had created a couple more for the visitors. Most would have thought him a deserved Man of the Match recipient, but Smith didn’t think so – instead he spoke about the man who was his opposite number that night, Jaque Fourie. In Smith’s view Fourie should have received the Man of the Match award and he left no one in any doubt about the massive respect he had for the Springbok.
Smith was right about the quality of Fourie’s performance that night – he scored two tries, helped create the other two and was at the heart of everything that the Lions did well. It seemed every time he touched the ball he was off on one of his charges through the opposing defence, contemptuously brushing off tacklers when he couldn’t beat them for pace.
It was that game, as much as any other, that announced Fourie’s return to top form and full momentum after a frustrating post-World Cup year in which he spent much of it on the sidelines. That period away from the game is something critics should perhaps take more cognisance of when they consider his right to be thought of as the world’s best outside centre.
According to one of Fourie’s predecessors in the Bok midfield, Pieter Müller, it’s only those injuries that have prevented Fourie from being head and shoulders above any other contender for the right to be called the world’s best.
‘He’s had a couple of injuries that have struck him down when he’s started approaching top form but to me he’s one of those rare players who just doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses. He’s big, fast, strong and brilliant defensively,’ says Müller.
While Fourie was away in 2008, Adi Jacobs did well enough to earn a starting place in the Springbok team for the first two Tests against the British & Irish Lions in 2009. It robbed the audience of the opportunity to properly judge Fourie in a head-to-head confrontation with the player widely regarded as the best in the world at the time – Ireland’s highly-rated Brian O’Driscoll.
Fourie was watching from the bench when O’Driscoll weaved his way through the Bok defence almost every time he touched the ball in those two matches, and O’Driscoll left the field concussed soon after Fourie arrived on it to make a massive difference to the Bok effort in the series-deciding last quarter of the second Test at Loftus.
But if you ask Müller, he leaves little doubt that if he had to choose between the two, Fourie would be the player he would select for his team.
‘O’Driscoll is an extraordinary attacking talent and he has withstood the test of time, but Jaque is also exceptionally strong on attack and has other attributes that make him a better all-round player. He’s big and he hurts the opposition when he tackles them. That’s what makes him a better package in my opinion; he’s just a much more influential defensive player, and defence is such an important part of that position.’
Speaking at a press conference before the first Tri-Nations Test of 2009 in Bloemfontein, Fourie had journalists agog when he stated matter-of-factly, when asked about his return to the Bok starting line-up for the match against the All Blacks, that he was the best in the world. But rather than accuse Fourie of arrogance, critics should instead try to recall those occasions when he could reasonably have considered himself to have been bettered by an opponent.
It’s hard to think of any, and it is easy to see how someone so physically imposing and so in control of his channel might be able to talk himself into thinking no one could outplay him in a head-to-head battle. And as another former Springbok centre, Brendan Venter, says, size is important.
‘What you need from an outside centre is someone who is very strong defensively as well as capable of testing opposing defences on attack,’ he says. ‘Conrad Smith is a good player known for his intelligence, but he lacks the zip and thrust of Jaque or O’Driscoll. I think O’Driscoll is exceptional; he is the best outside centre ever to have played the game. But he has lost a bit of his speed, and a No 13 is reliant on speed.
‘Jaque has also lost some of his speed; it’s natural and is a fact of life. No one in their late 20s is as quick as they were when they were 21. But he has other things that give him an edge over the other outside centres. What he has on O’Driscoll is his size. Jaque is three inches taller than Brian, and I don’t care what anyone says, that does make a difference. It’s just a fact of rugby that being bigger makes a player so much harder for the opposition to deal with.’
Venter says that Fourie’s size means he holds defences, forcing opposing teams to commit more defenders to look after him.
‘I like to judge a player on what I imagine it would have been like to play against him. I would have hated to play against Jaque; he would have been a tough proposition because he has so much going for him. Apart from his size, strength and speed, he has good feet for an outside centre, and his defence is massive. He really dominates his channel.’
Fourie’s midfield partner at the Stormers and the Boks, Jean de Villiers, nods his head in agreement with Venter’s assertion that Fourie is not a player you would relish playing against.
‘I’m really pleased to be in the same team as Jaque at Super Rugby level because he was the one guy I never enjoyed playing against when he was at the Lions,’ says De Villiers. ‘He’s been one of the top outside centres for quite a while now. He’s one of the truly great players and what makes him so great is his consistency. He seldom has a bad game, in fact it’s hard for me to recall when he has had a bad game. Defensively he is so solid, and he runs great lines. He’s a big threat to the opposition on attack.
‘It’s an enjoyable experience to play with Jaque as he is one of those guys who makes things easier for you. I think it’s been said often enough – his biggest attribute is probably his ability to communicate. He has great communication skills and is a gifted organiser of the defensive system.’
For another former Bok No 13, Robbie Fleck, it is those communication skills that put Fourie in a league of his own.
‘What makes Mossie outstanding is his ability to communicate and this is a skill that separates the world-class player from the merely good one,’ says Fleck, who as Stormers backline coach has plenty of inside knowledge on Fourie’s strengths and weaknesses.But Fleck is reluctant to take a line on whether Fourie is better than O’Driscoll on the basis that they are completely different players with contrasting styles.
‘O’Driscoll is a player you could use as an inside centre, whereas Jaque is an out- and-out outside centre. They have different attributes and fulfil their own roles for their respective teams. I reckon if you put them up against each other those differences would probably negate each other and you would get a stalemate.’
Fleck has no doubt that Fourie is among the finest outside centres he has seen in a career which started as a player at first-class level in 1997.
‘He’s definitely right near the top of the list of players I have seen during my time. Defensively he has few, if any, peers, in terms of organisation and execution. I know what a difference he makes to our defence when he’s present. He dominates the outside channel and dictates how opposition teams play against us by cutting down their options.
‘On attack he also has just about everything – he has great physique, is fast and he runs beautiful lines. He’s strong on his feet and difficult to bring down, so his ability to offload and hold the ball up is another one of his big strengths. Overall he’s not a player you would say has any weaknesses.
‘At the Stormers we feel he sometimes chases too many rucks and is therefore not always in the position he should be in to maximise his attacking opportunities, and we are working on that. But how can you fault a player for having a high work rate?’
Venter and De Villiers both also pinpointed Fourie’s personality as an important part of the armoury of any team he plays for.
‘He’s one of those players who still manages to stand out when things get tough and who is prepared to take on an extra load when the chips are down and the team isn’t playing well,’ says Venter. ‘He’ll look to try something different by running a line off the 10 or a line off the scrumhalf. That is an invaluable thing to have in a player.
‘In many ways he is similar to Jean in that he has a massive personality and inspires confidence in players around him. He makes things happen. He would be an extremely valuable player on the international market; a club in France would pay a huge amount of money to buy him. One of the reasons the Lions boxed above their weight in the years before John Mitchell arrived was because of Jaque. Since he left them it has become a lot harder for them. He is a special player and they miss him.’
– This article first appeared in the June issue of SA Rugby magazine. The July issue will be on sale from Wednesday, 22 June.
Click here to subscribe to print edition
Click here to subscribe to digital edition
36 Comments
13 Jun 2011, 06:55 am
This article forgets a lethal 13 who doesn’t attract as much fanfare but breaks the line with ridiculous ease….Digby Ioane. Gains the Reds massive metres with every touch of the ball
13 Jun 2011, 06:57 am
And I don’t like the air of arrogance in declaring himself the best, regardless of how the journos here try to justify it
13 Jun 2011, 07:04 am
No doubt about it….without this man the Boks have no killer punch.
13 Jun 2011, 07:19 am
STILL ?
13 Jun 2011, 07:24 am
He already is the worlds best. Every player seems to have form trouble somewhere in their career. Jaque Fourie has never been out of form.
When the Boks are playing awfully, Fourie is always the one player who still shines.
13 Jun 2011, 07:32 am
Not again.
This is embraboer.
Write something new.
13 Jun 2011, 07:36 am
blah blah blah
big….strong…fast….organises the defence…..
so, where’s the bit about the 13/outside-centre being a great PASSER of a ball ?!
all we get is that Jackie “is three inches taller than Brian” – WTF ?!
Gotta love how the article is based on Conrad Smith giving plaudits to Jackie and then waxing lyrical from there. Um, perhaps that has a little something to do with 1 player being 1 arrogant motherfarker and the other being a humble player who doesnt seek the limelight like the other ? Check out the way they celebrate their tries for 1 thing – 1 buries himself in his players, the other is doing fist-pumps in the face of the fans.
Wheres the stats that compares Jackie vs BOD/C.Smith mins-played converting in to their 11/14/15 scoring tries ?!
Good player, Jackie Fourie; a very good player. But not even close to being the ‘all-round’ centre that he’s so happy to tell us he is
still !
13 Jun 2011, 08:57 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-7:
Fourie has set up many a try and is a brilliant passer. Don’t be a jealous phuckface. Every article about a player, you’re there trying to undermine them – whether it be Brussow or Fourie…
Conrad Smith, although a great tackler and tries his heart out, just doesn’t have the speed to be considered. BOD is just an overrated joke.
13 Jun 2011, 09:34 am
Jaque Fourie is class and his consistency is what sets him apart from a lot of players.Big,strong and fast.Runs great lines and the best tackling 13 on the planet.Best finishing 13 when the line is beckoning as well. Highly EFFICIENT.
BUT
It would be foolish to even discount the value of Conrad Smith. Smith isnt the most physically blessed player out there, the likes of Freaun,Kahui,Toeava are better athletes by some distance. But Smith is the most intelligent player in the 3 quarters that has ever played the game. For what he lacks in size he makes up in attitude,guile and his ability to feel out space. He is the best distributing 13 in the world as well as being brilliant at the breakdown/turnovers. Runs brilliant lines and awesome finisher as well.(check out his try to match ratio-impressive).
What Smith pips Fourie and the others in my opinion is his ability to create space for his outside backs and his ability to put them positions to score tries in abundance.
And contrary to belief by many @Black Panther(Black Panther)-7: Smith is one cocky mofo….his attitude permeates the most when on the pitch-constant chirping,complaining, pushing and often has that look of disdain etc…Only difference is he doesnt voice it out in interviews and Fourie does.
And that is a personality thing, has nothing to do with ability thus shouldnt be used to discount a player. Im of the thinking that if you can back it up-which Fourie can to a certain extent and has been for a couple of years now-SO BE IT.
13 Jun 2011, 10:06 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-9:
excellent post.
As solid as Fourie is, and a great finisher, BoD has been the best 13 in the world albeit that he might be a tonsil. BoD’s ability to shred defenses in his prime is unmatched since Gerber, but he’s lost speed over the last year or two, and going into this RWC i;d rather have Fourie over any other 13. Stirling Mortlock was also damn good.
13 Jun 2011, 11:56 am
To me i always thought Mortlock was the perfect no 13. Great game breaker and could even kick to the posts, very very well. Prone to some defensive lapses but generally a dangerous player. Bod is also one of the best. J Fourie is a different type of player but he does shine out from the Bok team and all the players around him. He is just so damn consistant!
To me he is the best Bok we have had since 92(Re-admission)!!
13 Jun 2011, 13:32 pm
I’m pretty damn happy with Fourie’s form and class… for WP/Stormers/Springboks…
and I believe he is the best 13 in the world at the moment… certainly crosses the gain-line often… often with two or three guys clutching on desperately… (and the try-line) and, hell, he makes things happen… and as mshiniwami says… he has been really consistent… for a couple of years now…
so what if he says it…?
thing is when he chats about it, he’s not being windgat at all… he’s just stating what he believes to be true… I prefer his frankness than the false modesty of other players who pretend they don’t know how good they are…
and if his comments ratchet up the anti… all the better… let his opposition take aim and try and knock him off his perch… and let him defend his stated position on the field… which he does do… it all makes for intriguing and exciting rugby…
Go Jaque!!
13 Jun 2011, 13:39 pm
beeeeeeautiful ! KKK called a ‘phuckface’ for, allegedly, “rubbishing” a player I succinctly opined was “a very good player”….
…………~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@@@@@@@
(a tsunami of my laughter-tears)
only to then turn around and completely rubbishing BOD, the best no13 of the pro era – as acknowledged in this same article, and thereby highlighting KKK as the biggest hypocrite we always knew he was.
So a BIG thanks to you, KKK, you’ve certainly made my Keo-day – All the loose coins in your passed-down cookie jar of self-proclaimed wealth just couldn’t buy happiness like that !
13 Jun 2011, 13:41 pm
He is without a doubt, one of the most consistent preformers out there.
Everyone know the famous “Jacque Fouuurie” by Hugh Bladen.
The fact of matter is, and I beg anyone here to differ. If you had to choose an outside centre to play in a world cup final. JF would be your choice. You know it. You may say otherwise, but if it came down to it -you would. How often has he broken the line and offloaded to JP, Habana, or Jean de villiers. Somehow he does it. Then there’s defense. The flashy players like BOD look good in the highlight packages, but you need an 80min player.
He is that guy. I hope he retains his form and doesn’t get injured.
13 Jun 2011, 13:41 pm
Frankie Bunce would have made Jackie his biyatch
still.
13 Jun 2011, 13:41 pm
preformers = performers. It’s Monday.
13 Jun 2011, 13:47 pm
@last movement(GrubdogSA)-14:
great point…!!
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-15:
hey BP bud… Frank was a special player for sure… also very physical… would’ve been good to see them opposite each other…!!
but in this era… I believe Fourie comes closest to Bunce’s stature…
13 Jun 2011, 13:50 pm
KKK turns the other cheek (or, atleast, he gets 1 of his servants to)….
“Every article about a player, you’re there trying to undermine them – whether it be Brussow or Fourie…”
HO HO hoooooooooooooo !
love the irony, KKK, I’ve never once see you compliment a player other than 1 of your own.
As for “undermining…Brussow” – I think you’ll find I strongly suggested he dwarves a Bok jersey, here, about 18mths before he eventually wore one. To such extent I even labelled him the “Bloem Gem”.
*ahem*
don’t take my opinion that McCaw is, and remains, his Master as “undermining”
13 Jun 2011, 13:51 pm
Bunce was my favourite, but Sella, Guscott and Little were excellent too.
Andre Snyman could crack on some gas, Fleckie could find a gap, Pieter Muller was the master of the big hit, Muir was a great distributer, Mulder was solid, but Fourie probably the most consistent since readmission in all aspects as said by the others above.
13 Jun 2011, 13:52 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-15: Disagree there BP. Frankie would struggle against any of the modern test centres. They are just much bigger and stronger than they used to. You simply can’t compare.
I was talking to an ex member of the victorius ’95 Springbok team management and he made the comment that none of the squad from back then would make a current Bok set-up, simply because the pace and strength of the game has moved on so much from those days
13 Jun 2011, 14:00 pm
i think KKK is bladdy hilarious.
13 Jun 2011, 15:25 pm
Cab
Sella was the Real Deal and an absolute Master of the 13-arts. Seemed to be able to run at full pace whilst his body tilted at right-angles like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Wonderful and respectful player too, I’m sure he would have been far too embarrassed to anoint himself “still the Best” ala Jackie, instead he allowed others to do that which is the norm for players outside of SA.
However Jerry and Walter were 12′s that req’d completely different skillsets and therefore the comparison us inappropriate. I loved watching Jerey with ball in hand – and name ONE other England player you can say that about – but without the ball he was complete roadkill. Laurie Mains targeted Jerry as the weaklink prior to RWC’95 and within the 1st Qter of the SemiF Buncey ran right THROUGH him. Jonal running over Catt created a Legend but it was Buncey they Jerry that opened the floodgates of England confidence, early. Wonderful wonderful player, nevertheless.
Walter was Walter, a Little giant of a player. Played against him when he was at Hato Petera and was there to see his 1st game for North Harbour as an 18yr old and also his Test debut. Unbelievable skillset. To get more than 2 words our of him was a minor miracle tho. Unlike, ahem, Jackie.
13 Jun 2011, 15:30 pm
Stormer
I’m afraid to say that you seem to have fallen for the same SA-affliction that Venter has succumbed to above, being that size equates to skill. It doesn’t and never has.
2 names for you.
G.Batty
S.Pokere
midgets in stature, giants of the game. As any Safa (of my era, atleast) should know.
13 Jun 2011, 15:35 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-7:
Don’t hate us cos we’re passionate….hate us cos you fear us…..
13 Jun 2011, 15:37 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-8:
Ja the little prig just simply hates anything South African. Doesn’t help that he knows Fourie and de Villiers are going to be a potent force in the RWC….and he knows these boys can score tries..
13 Jun 2011, 15:39 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-23: Sure, and please don’t get me wrong, Bunce is a legend of the game, alongside great names like Gerber for SA, Sella for France , Horan or Little for Aus, and many more. For me though Bunce was a man for the game at that time, not nescessarily now. It’s not like he’d dissapear nowadays, but i doubt he’d be the same player.
Brian O Driscoll is actually not the biggest centre in the game, and he’s a legend, so it’s not about size, but rather athleticism to me.
But I’d always take a good big man over a good small(er) man if you know what I mean..
13 Jun 2011, 15:39 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-15:
Naturally. He’s a Kiwi and we all know they are the best in the world…end of story so waah.
13 Jun 2011, 15:42 pm
BP
Yep Sella seemed like a nice enough fella, still does, he is often a tv commentator in france, along with another SA favourite, Thierry LaCroix.
I don’t think Fourie is arrogant, he does have alot of self-confidence, which alot of the best players have. He perhaps does not have the creativity of some of the other greats, but he runs hard straight lines, invariably poses problems when the boks actually give him some decent ball, and doesnt let anything thru, he’s finishing is exceptional and he’d make an excellent wing too – see his try vs the BIL to clinch the series, alot of work to do. Put it this way with the current kiwi midfield the way it is, the ideal antidote is Fourie.
The Little I was refferring to was Jason (13), not Walter who played 12 but also flyhalf i believe. Jerry ran his best lines outside of Carling, I believe Guscott swapped occasionally. He’s a tool when commenting on SA, possibly for obvious reasons, but was a sight to behold on the move. Couldnt tackle for toffee tho, not the bravest, he’d struggle containing some of the modern midfield monsters.
13 Jun 2011, 19:35 pm
Premenstrual at Dawn
I couldn’t possibly bring myself to “hate” someone like you but, it’s true, that I most certainly pity people like you that show such naked immaturity and overt-sensitivity that is at complete odds to your age and experience.
My favourite non-AB of All Time, as I’ve often stated here, is one D.Gerber – you may wish to check the ‘Place of Birth’ on his Passport and revert back to me in your own good time.
13 Jun 2011, 19:44 pm
Mr Cab Driver
ah, my mistake.
Personally I didn’t rate J.Little as a no13. Another ‘very good player’ like Jackie (still) but by no means a Great. He was very very lucky to play outside one tho, Timmy Horan being possibly the best no12 to lace up boots. Would have liked to see him face Bill Osborne, a childhood hero of mine.
Walter Little was mesmeric in 95 & 96. Suffered terribly from dodgy knees and a close and regular association with Mr Harry Ooter.
13 Jun 2011, 20:01 pm
btw, Mr Cab Driver, if you honestly don’t believe Jackie is (still) ‘arrogant’ then you’re not only in a minute minority incl Jackie (still), but I’m genuinely interested in your opinion of who qualifies for that elusive-in-SA moniker.
For the record, I’m a believer that most/all Great players should show arrogance between the opening and closing whistle of whatever sport. In rugby, for one sport, the likes of G.Gregan/J.Marshall/Joost had it in spades (what IS it above no9′s ?!). But were I compare others who I have been fortunate to meet off-field (this ones for you, Premenstrual) and there’s no contest who will go on to be fan favourites long after they retire between a Schalk Burger (old school great guy) and a Bryan Habana (absolute tosser
13 Jun 2011, 21:57 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-30:
yip, little probably lucky to have horan on his inside but still a class act.
if we talking 12′s horan one of the best no doubt.
horan and bunce good god almighty.
jackie? u mean jacques, i once knew a tannie called jackie, but its not really in the afr culture to get arrogant, there are some exceptions but by and large they look down on the flash harries. philip burger might be arrogant or perhaps marius joubert or kevin pietersen, joost was a great with arrogance, cantona the only roundballer i ever enjoyed in my adult life and the chosen one mourinho, but jacques never struck me as anything other than a straight shooter, in fact i think one of the criticisms of the sa backline is that it needs a bit more pessaz in midfield.
dunno about schalk or brian personally, the guys i;ve met have all been pretty decent blokes, i think brian let alot of success go to his head and its affecting his on-field perforances big time, but i think he’s getting back to grafting mode, still a ways too go.
13 Jun 2011, 23:18 pm
@cab(cab)-32:
by ‘afr culture’ I can only, then, assume that you mean ‘black-afr culture’. In which case I would agree, altho Ive only met a very few.
But, then, you dont think Jackie is arrogant either so we’re clearly not reading from the same dicktionary.
SA doesnt have sole ownership on arrogant motherfarkers tho. NZ has had the likes of Hadlee, Simon Poleman (u may not have heard of him), and certainly our PM, Robert Muldoon would have given Louis Luyt a good run for his money, albeit not with the same level of, um, catering connections.
14 Jun 2011, 00:34 am
jackie ‘the kiwi-named’ fourie is afrikaans, as a fairly gross generalisation the afrikaans culture don’t tend to like show-offs – tho i dunno what happened to steve hofmeyer. I quite like the odd show-off, that can walk the talk, look atThe Greatest, not Ali, but PdV. Krusty will venture down south, annoy the locals in both Sa and NA and still waltz off with the silverware. You gotta love it.
yep Hadlee was legendary, hadn’t heard of poleman, but heard of muldoon (think he was involved over the flour bomb stuff). i probably know a little more of the aussie politics, didnt they have that cheeky chappy with the silver tongue Keating at teh time of muldoon? Got a pal from christchurch, he’ll know poleman, but i liked grizz wylie, former coach of the lions. i think mitchell is actually the 3rd kiwi coach for the lions, quite strange, wonder why they chose joburg, not sure any of the other SA sides had a kiwi coach.
14 Jun 2011, 02:21 am
gees, we’d never hear a compliment like the one Smith gave to Fourie from any bok players..
why even matfield in his after match “chats” cant congratulate the opposition, as shown many a time this season…
14 Jun 2011, 02:34 am
Stormersboy
was pleased to read it all went exceptionally well for your young un…
Kia Kaha
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.