Out of the ‘naughty corner’, Neethling Fouché warns Stormers about Cardiff threat

Stormers tighthead Neethling Fouché had a welcome break from rugby duties, but upon completion of his tackling school and nappy responsibilities, he is ready to get stuck in with the dirty work ahead of the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs.

He will be back in contention for the Cape side when they take on Cardiff on Friday at the Cape Town Stadium (7pm start) after the red card against Ulster for a head-high tackle.

In his absence, the junior props of the Stormers showed their mettle.

But after a few weeks away, Fouché will be looking to regain the scrummaging form he had before the enforced ‘off time’.

“It is nice to be out of the naughty corner,” Fouché jokingly said this week.

“My wife made use of it. There were a lot of nappies at home that had to be changed. She saw it as a chance for her to (put me to work). But all jokes aside, I think, you just miss it. 

“You sit here on weekends and you try and put a smile on your face, but the competitor inside you wants to be on the field.

“You are training every week, but you don’t get to go out on the field at the weekend.

“I think just getting back a massive appreciation for what we have, playing for the Stormers week in and week out, sometimes you take that for granted.

“I really missed it, and I’m glad to be back.”

Tighthead Sazi Sandi, the retired Brok Harris and youngster Zachary Porthen stood in for Fouché, and he was pleased with how they anchored the Stormers’ scrum.

While he is back to take a leading role, he knows that the jersey is safe should he be unavailable going forward.

“That is the thing about the Stormers. There are always new guys coming through. I thought Sazi did really well in our absence,” Fouché said.

“Frans (Malherbe) is also not here, and then Brokkie (Harris) fell, so Sazi did really well.

“And Vernon (Matongo) showed everyone what I have always thought of him in that he is going to be a very big loosehead in South African rugby. 

“And also, it has been nice to see a veteran like Ali Vermaak, who has been playing for 43 years now – it is nice to have him just stabilising everything.”

He had some nervous moments next to the field when his team faced Connacht, but according to the tighthead, watching the last two games, where they blew Benetton and the Dragons off the field, were a breeze. 

He wasn’t at the stadium during the duel with Connacht, but sat at home watching it with a pillow in front of his face.

The Stormers won after a try in the dying minutes by the Irish club was ruled out.

He says it will be vital to maintain winning momentum ahead of the playoffs, looking at Friday’s clash.

“There can’t be complacency. The best team that can go out and to the job will be selected,” Fouché said.

“And it is our responsibility: to leave the jersey in a better place for the generations behind us.

“We did not go and sit and do maths about where a win would see us end up on the log.

“This game will be a playoff for Cardiff, and we have seen they rested some of their big names and played them off the bench against the Bulls, and that could be an indication of what we can expect over the weekend. 

“We will not underestimate how desperate they will be to win here.

“I can’t remember when Cardiff last made the playoffs, so they will be hungry to qualify. We can’t take this game lightly. 

“We don’t like to reflect on the past, but Cardiff beat us last year and the season before, and they have a few SA players there that will feed them some info on us.”