This week Bakkies Botha returned to the Springbok team and very soon his long-time second row partner Victor Matfield may be back on the playing field as well.
Reports suggest that both Matfield (Big Vic) and Bok flyhalf Derick Hougaard (Liefling) are on the comeback trail with the Bulls, hoping the experienced duo can play a role in their 2014 Super Rugby campaign.
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It was reported on Friday that Matfield has been spotted training in Pretoria with Springbok fitness coach Basil Carzis in a bid to get back in shape for Super Rugby and perhaps, even put himself in contention for Test selection.
Matfield has not played since retiring after the 2011 World Cup, while Hougaard moved to the United Kingdom in 2008 to join his former Bulls coach – now Springbok boss – Heyneke Meyer at Leicester.
Hougaard set Super Rugby alight in 2007, scoring 161 points in 14 matches (all with the boot), finishing behind only Stephen Donald of the Chiefs in the point-scoring tally (164 in 13 games).
He was also a key part of the team that lifted the trophy that year in a thrilling 20-19 final triumph over the Sharks – the first between South African foes.
After returning from a stint at Saracens, Hougaard has been serving as a junior kicking coach at Loftus and could figure in the 2014 Bulls squad if his Achilles recovery continues to go as planned.
Matfield has also been an important component of the Bulls’ coaching setup, overseeing the forward and attack.
While the Bulls have remained tight-lipped over the prospects of the duo making a return to Super Rugby, there’s little doubt the squad would see immediate benefits in both depth and experience to impart throughout what is now a relatively young group.
Phweeew… what to think of this?
Firstly, let’s look at Liefling…. he had to retire way too early due to the achilles heel injury, has been out of rugby for quite a long time now, so the heel could have healed quite well.
Considering that the Bulls have a serious issue at flyhalf at the moment, with Handré Pollard not having stepped up sufficiently just yet and with Louis Fouché a kicking donkey and not much more…. Liefling’s return might just be a blessing!
Now to old Victor Matfield… bit old, but still looks fit and has not added needless weight… and has kept quite active. Even if he returns for 4 months in Super Rugby, it might be a good thing as he and Flip van der Merwe could resume their old partnership, whilst bringing Paul Willemse, Grant Hatting, David Bullbring through nicely.
Might also be a step up again from a captaincy point of view, which has been seriously lacking under Pierre Spies and more recently under Jono Ross.
Together with fellow Springbok injured returnees (Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Pierre Spies & Francois Hougaard), the addition of these 2 former Springboks will add 6 Springboks to the Bulls run-on fold in Super Rugby.
Matfield could retain the job as forwards coach too… no problem.
Looking at a possible run-on side for the Bulls, we could well see 14 out of 15 starters being Springboks again (fullback excepted)… plus some serious future Springboks in the mix on the bench…
Great for the Bulls, cr4p for the Boks. Lets hope HM has nothing to do with it, and sticks to his current plan
Ek hou hiervan. Altwee is uitstekende speler. Net heel agter is ‘n probleem en dalk haker ook. As Kallie Visagie net kan leer ingooi by lynstane sal dit baie beter gaan.
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