Why 39-year-old flanker Deon Fourie was picked over Bongi Mbonambi

The Springboks called upon Stormers flanker Deon Fourie for the second Test in Cape Town, with the 39-year-old set to make his first appearance for South Africa since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Despite playing for the Stormers against the All Blacks as a flanker, Fourie has been picked as hooker cover in the No.16 jersey for the second Test, a role he filled as an emergency stopgap option during the 2023 Rugby World Cup after they lost Malcolm Marx to injury.

The decision to call on a part-time hooker has raised questions about the whereabouts of Bongi Mbonambi, South Africa’s 80-Test hooker who is four years younger than Fourie.

Erasmus explained that he has been keeping tabs on Mbonambi but the hooker is not medically cleared to play. He has been sidelined with back and knee problems since missing the back half of the 2025/2026 season with the Sharks.

“At this stage we just feel for this specific game we need a guy like Deon there, but obviously in the long run, you know, Bongi (Mbonambi) is really close to returning again,” he said.

“Bongi has to play some proper matches now and get it under his belt before we can again look at him.

“Bongi had a knee and then it’s a lower back thing. So, he keeps us up to date and he WhatsApps every now and then to say how he’s doing, but obviously the Sharks medical team must clear him first.

Despite keeping direct contact with the Sharks hooker, Erasmus revealed “he doesn’t know” the extent of the injuries as the timelines keep changing.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure which of the two injuries is keeping him out right now, but as I say, we can’t pull him in here and let him play a first match again, a Test match, so we we’ll have to get him in and see him playing maybe a few Currie Cup games and then maybe we can consider him again,” he said.

“I haven’t spoken to JP (Pietersen). I’ve only spoken to Bongi, and I honestly don’t know. About three weeks ago I thought he was a week away, but since then I can’t tell you. JP would know that.”

Erasmus was very happy to see Fourie back in the Springboks who offers value not just on the pitch but in preparations too.

“I know him very well, and I coached him for many years. He played flanker for us and then moved into hooker and, as I said yesterday to the guys, the guy is a gymnast, the guy’s a wrestler, and I guess very few people, some at 35, 36 and others at 39 still make it.

“It’s unbelievable, and we feel it’s something not just in his game. It’s also him as a person and how he helps us make decisions and plans and so on. On and off the field, he is very valuable.”