Jaque Fourie (Gallo)

Ken Borland

Johannesburg - Saturday's Test between the Springboks and the Wallabies in Brisbane will be a major landmark in a top-class career for Jaque Fourie. But it has also been a career with more than a fair share of misfortune in it for the 26-year-old.

Fourie will play his 50th Test on Saturday, but would have reached the landmark far earlier were it not for the fact that he is currently on his third comeback from injury.

After making his debut in the 2003 World Cup in Australia, the Gauteng Lions star missed the Tri-Nations in 2004 with a groin hernia. He returned to the Green and Gold for the end-of-year tour and enjoyed his longest injury-free run, all the way to September 2006, before he broke his hand just days before the trip to Ireland and England.

Fourie returned and played through 2007, before missing last year's Tri-Nations due to a broken cheekbone.

"Ja, it's been an up-and-down career with a lot of injuries, but the last year has been good and we've had some memorable wins. It's a great privilege to play 50 Tests for your country," Fourie said.

The Monument high school product has been party to one of the most successful eras in Springbok rugby, and has been one of its most celebrated players, his lethal combination of pace, power and vision in midfield making him one of the most respected figures in the world game.

And, he believes his injuries and the recent indecision coach Peter de Villiers has gone through in terms of whether to pick him or Adrian Jacobs at outside centre have actually been beneficial.

"God allows things to happen for a reason and I don't take anything for granted. But after every injury I've come back bigger, stronger and faster and it's how you stand up after setbacks that matters.

"And having someone like Adi Jacobs around means you can't rest, it makes you work harder and it's great to have that sort of competition for places in the team," Fourie said.

There has also, of course, been confusion over where exactly the Carletonville-born Fourie will be playing his rugby next year, his name being linked with Western Province during the flurry of potential new signings that was made public at the start of silly season. But the player himself is unfazed.

"I don't think very often about where I'll be playing next year, I'll just enjoy my rugby wherever I'm playing. Right now I'm just concentrating on us winning the Tri-Nations."

And when Fourie focuses on something, special things tend to happen thanks to his never-say-die attitude.

"The mind is a powerful thing and I believe when you set your mind to something, you will achieve it. I want to be one of the best number 13s in the world and then I want to stay there."

Fourie was one of the poor Springboks who featured in the 49-0 drubbing the last time they played in Brisbane, but he says returning to the Suncorp Stadium is not a scary prospect.

"In 2006 that was a bad day for Springbok rugby, we really got killed, but it's 2009 now and we're a totally different team, we've grown a lot and have more experience. We're playing the best rugby we have in a long time and South African rugby is very healthy at the moment."

Fourie added that there were no thoughts of going out to avenge that loss on Saturday.

"I never live in the past and that match has played no part in our motivation. Hopefully we'll have a good game on Saturday and win the Tri-Nations, that's our motivation."