'In sync' Deon Fourie calmly shrugs off lineout doubts: 'There's more to playing hooker'

Deon Fourie is undaunted by the prospect of having to fill Malcolm Marx's considerable boots as a Bomb Squad member this weekend.

The 35-year-old Stormers veteran, whom Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber identified as a potential Schalk Brits-like figure for next year's World Cup, is back at hooker for the meeting with the Wallabies in Sydney in a move that will divide opinion.

Fourie starred as a pesky, irrepressible opensider in the Cape franchise's URC title drive and can be realistically expected to transfer much of those skills to the No 2 position.

However, given Joseph Dweba's troubles in that area, there are reservations over whether he can provide a more consistent stream of straight lineout throws, especially since that was one of the reasons why he was switched from hooker to flanker.

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"Throw-ins are only a small part of playing hooker, there are many more responsibilities to doing that," said Fourie.

"I've been [training at hooker] with the Stormers for quite a while and with the Boks as well. A few years ago in France I played hooker as well.

"I think in my 16 years of playing professionally I've played at hooker more than I have at flank. Like I said, there is more to playing hooker than throw-ins. It's been going well.

"You have to keep your game up and keep doing what you are doing."

Fourie is very likely to scrum alongside the wily and experienced Trevor Nyakane and his fellow Bomb Squad member left little room for doubt over the late bloomer's ability to make a seamless transition.

Wallabies

15 Reece Hodge, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valenti, 7