Lions captain Francke Horn will be hoping to go one better than his dad, Francois, when he faces the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Tuesday evening.
The older Horn, a former provincial fullback, played for a Boland XV against the All Blacks in Worcester on their last tour to South Africa back in 1996. It was a closely contested affair at Esselen Park with the tourists only securing a hard-fought 32-21 victory late on.
The match is also remembered for a fantastic individual try by former Springbok wing Breyton Paulse, who played alongside Francois on the wing.
Remarkably, Francke will now get the opportunity to avenge that defeat three decades on.
“This match is quite special for me,” said the younger Horn, “because my dad played against the All Blacks in 1996, for Boland in Worcester. It’s special that I’m able to also do it 30 years later.”
The visitors certainly hold a special place in the Horn household with his dad, Francois, having kicked three conversions back then with a black eye.
“I can’t remember against who they played the week before, but he had a nice black shiner. He showed the photo,” he said.
“So it was such a big game to play with a shiner. And he said that he converted all three tries at the posts. And it was apparently quite a close game until they scored at the end. So yeah, he was quite happy.”
Unlike his father, who marshalled the backline, the former Paarl Boys’ High schoolboy star packs down at the base of the scrum and will come up against a formidable All Blacks loose trio consisting of Semisi Ta’eiloa, Ethan Blackadder and Wallace Sititi.
Having not played Super Rugby before, Francke is excited about the prospect of testing himself against New Zealand opposition.
“Yeah, a massive opportunity for every single guy in the 23. It’s been a very nice build-up to this game,” he said.
“We’re really looking forward to it, to test ourselves against opponents we’ve never played before. I’ve always watched Super Rugby and to feel that tempo and that intensity and that physicality.
“Obviously, you’re testing yourself against the best and they’ve picked a very good loose trio and we as well have a very good loose trio. So it’s just important that we as a pack and as a loose trio play well together. If the team does well, the individual does well and the rest will look after itself.
“So, I’m not really thinking too far ahead. Just focusing on my game and how I can contribute to the team.”
