Adopted Fourie prepared for Springboks test

The 31-year-old born in Burgersdorp, South Africa, is expected to win his fourth cap from the bench at Twickenham on Saturday as Martin Johnson's rapidly-improving side look to end an eye-catching Autumn with another victory.

It will be a poignant moment for the Leeds Carnegie openside who left his countrymen behind in 2005 to pursue a career in England.

But the powerful forward, who has become an adopted Yorkshiremen after spending two years at Rotherham Titans before joining Leeds, is keen to put sentiment to one side to concentrate on impressing his manager and the English public.

"The whole of South Africa will be watching this game. A lot of eyes will be on me, which will make it a bit different to what I'm used to, but I don't feel as if I have anything to prove to the people in South Africa," said Fourie.

"It's more important for me to prove a point to the people of England, showing them that I am good enough to play for England, and worthy of a pick."

Fourie, who played for the Shimlas and Maties in South Africa, made his full debut in the win against Samoa last Saturday but is set to drop to the bench for returning captain Lewis Moody when Johnson names his starting XV today.

Should he be introduced as a second-half replacement, as he was against New Zealand and Australia earlier this month, he is unsure how he will be greeted by the Springboks on the pitch and in the stands.

"I don't know what the reaction will be, it's one of those things that you never can tell," said Fourie, who has only been a full-time professional since joining Leeds in 2007.

"I don't know if I'll get some punches in the face in contact. You have to expect anything in a game of rugby.

"I've played against South Africans in the Premiership and nothing has ever been said or happened.

"I've just got to go out there and do my job. It doesn't really matter who we're playing. It's another team for us to beat."

Despite singing from the England hymn sheet, Fourie admits walking out of the Twickenham tunnel on the opposite side of his native countrymen will be an emotional occasion.

"There will be a difference for me lining up against South Africa, more so than were it Australia say," added Fourie.

"I grew up singing the South African national anthem in school but it's changed since then and I haven't really sung it since.

"A cap against the Springboks does hold a special place for me. Saturday will be a special occasion.

"This is what I've been aiming for, ever since I came over to Yorkshire five years ago. If I were to have only played once for England, it would have been nice if that one cap would have come against the Springboks."

Fortunately for Fourie, he has managed more than one cap, and in a World Cup year, has no intention of leaving it at the three he has won so far.

Since gaining England residency late last year he has not looked back, earning a call-up for the England Saxons and improving his all-round game under the watchful eye of club coach Neil Back – one of the finest openside flankers of his generation – to grab his international opportunity with both hands.

"This time last year if you'd have said I'd be playing regularly for England I'd have laughed," said Fourie, who earned rave reviews for his 80-minute shift against Samoa.

"But things change really quickly and I am really proud of what I have achieved.

"It was my first 80 minutes for about four weeks last week, so even from that standpoint, it was good to get that under my belt.

"There were things I was pleased with, things I could have done differently.

"The more you play the more you get used to international rugby. The game against Samoa really opened my eyes to the pace of international rugby.

"The key for me is getting used to it and making the most of the opportunities I get."

Dropping down to the bench for the final game of an invigorating November for England is no reflection on his performance, more the calibre of man who stands ahead of him in the race for the No 7 shirt.

Moody is an England stalwart whose ascenscion to the post of England captain earlier this year has coincided with the national team's revival.

Starts for Fourie may be limited, but he admits he is just happy to be involved in the 22, particularly in a gruelling month of fixtures when different approaches are required against certain opponents.

"The changes last week really freshened things up," said Fourie.

"We were never going to emulate the performance we showed against Australia.

"Australia weren't that physical, while the Samoans gave us a test up front and at the breakdown, something that we will face against the Springboks.

"Playing Samoa was a shock to our physical system. It will stand us in good stead this week."