ESPN Classic has produced two original one-hour documentaries focusing on the careers of ex-Springbok rugby captains, John Smit and Victor Matfield.
Featuring interviews with coaches Heyneke Meyer, Pieter de Villiers and Jake White, fellow Springboks Bryan Habana and Bakkies Botha and including personal reflections from the two men, the documentaries look back at their lives, from their early days, the roles they played at club level and their exploits – both on and off the field – until their retirement from international rugby after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Victor Matfield is widely regarded as being one of the best locks in the rugby union world – was a key player during a golden era of success for the Springboks.
This month’s portrait explains why he was quite so special. Club rugby – in the form of some epic Currie Cup Finals – also feature in October’s fifteen-a-side-friendly TV schedule.
Dankie GBS, ek is sat vanaand gou bietjie slaap inkry , voor die phoring my wakker maak LOL
This would be one worth watching, will be interesting to hear anyone who watches its thoughts on it.
Good will watch that, but surely it should read up there as:
Rugby Icons: Victor Matfield / John Smit
Where is John’s name up there hey? Play fair now….
@ Puma:
John Smit….what a boytjie, LEGEND!!!! If only Heyneke had him at his side now….
@ Puma:
Make no mistake, Adriaan Strauss quickly becoming a team leader in the mold of John Smith and Juan Smith.
Juan Smith, now there is a player we really could have done with right now, great pity and loss for Springbok rugby.
That was a great period in SA rugby. Pity we did not have a coach who could really build on the platform laid by JW. SA rugby would have been on top of the world now.
4 @ Pietman:
Agree Piet, we could do with John’s captaincy. JDV is not a great captain to be honest. Strauss is far better, though he won’t start ahead of Bissie next year. I have a feeling next year Meyer will make Bissie the captain as he is our vice captain when playing.
Juan Smith is a huge loss and was as well in the wc last year. I doubt he will come back, just can’t see it really. He has been away from the game too long now. LEGEND for sure.
6 @ Lion4ever:
Agree with you bud, we sure as hell missed a great opportunity by not having a top class coach with the players we had after 2007. Jake should have carried on from there as coach. G. Henry’s ABs lost in a quarter final of the 2007 wc and he was retained and went on to win the next wc. Here in South Africa we fired the world cup winning coach????? Unbelievable. We could have been the best ever in the last 4 years and Jake would have brought in many youngsters during that time as well. There would have been none of this having to rebuild again stuff.
@ Puma:
Lifetime career of a Springbok coach is 4 years max. How long did England persist with Sir Clive? 12 years?
In SA we dump guys like Mallet, White, Kitch (health reasons).
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