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Cape Town - 2016 was a big year for Juan de Jongh.
An Olympic bronze medal with the Blitzboks in Rio was followed by a breakthrough year with the Springboks under Allister Coetzee.
However, it didn't all go according to plan, but De Jongh did play in five Tests last year to take his career tally to 19.
The Stormers Super Rugby co-captain in 2016 is one of a number of players trying to secure a spot in the Springbok midfield.
The fight for the No 12 jersey looks set to continue between Damian de Allende and Rohan Janse van Rensburg, but there are a number players in the running for the Bok No 13 jersey including De Jongh, Lionel Mapoe, Francois Venter and Jesse Kriel.
It was fitting, then, that De Jongh took to his Instagram account on Thursday to pay tribute to one of the greatest No 13s in Springbok history - Jaque Fourie.
Fourie, 33, announced his retirement from all forms of rugby this week. He is currently playing his rugby in Japan with the Kobe Kobelco Steelers.
De Jongh refereed to Fourie as the "best in any thirteen jumper".
"Thanks for everything you showed me on and off the field, a lot that I still do is because of you," De Jongh continued.
"It was an honour to have been your partner in crime in the centre, was one for the books that I will talk about for a very long time.
"All the best with your next chapter, rugby will miss your presence."
Fourie played 72 Tests for the Springboks between 2003 and 2013, with his last Test coming against France in Paris in November 2013.
