And as the Boks begin the defence of their RWC title against the Wales in New Zealand’s capital city on Sunday, Fourie has been showing some affection lately for his partner in crime.
As Kevin McCallum writes in Tuesday’s Cape Times newspaper, Fourie is one of the few Springboks who have managed to perform consistently since the last World Cup.
Although Fourie has achieved a lot of success in the past through some fantastic individual displays, but much of his stand-out performances in recent years has hinged on how well De Villiers plays.
However, Fourie points out that the telepathic understanding which exists between him and De Villiers stretches further back than when Fourie made the move to Western Province from the Lions.
“From the first time we played together in that first Test in 2004 at Ellis Park, we just clicked. It’s been going well since. I wish we had played more together, but there have been injuries and such like. He adds a lot to my game,” he told the Cape Times.
Fourie went onto say that De Villiers has exceptional knowledge of the game and when they play together, De Villiers allows him the space to play his natural game.
“I am busting more lines now than before. We have that sense of each other. I know what he’s going to do, and he knows what I am going to do,” concluded Fourie.
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