Fouché on Bok debut: I just focused on not falling

IT WASN'T easy to control his emotions when he ran onto the field and sang the national anthem in his first-ever international match for South Africa.

- LEIGHTON KOOΡΜΑΝ

But one thing Neethling Fouché controlled was not stumbling as he was running out at the DHL Stadium, like his prop mate Asenathi Ntlabakanye did when the Springboks faced the Barbarians on Saturday.

Fouché came on as a substitute shortly after halftime in what he describes as being “a dream come true”.

The Springboks beat the Baabaas 54-7 and laid the perfect foundation for the rest of the season as they head into three Tests in July, a double against Italy and one against Georgia.

“You know, you watch the Springboks and dream of playing for them one day, I got to do it,” Fouché said.

“It was unbelievable. I had to walk a bit of a gravel road to get here, but I just tried to soak it in. Yes, it was a Barbarians game, and the score was high, but it was really physical out there.