Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield will on Saturday become the most-capped Test player in the history of South African rugby when he leads the Springboks against Wales in his 112th Test match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Matfield made his Test debut on 30 June 2001 against Italy in Port Elizabeth. He retired after the Rugby World Cup in 2011 on 110 caps, but made a highly successful return to the game earlier this year.
“This is a fantastic accolade for Victor,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Wednesday.
“He has been a terrific servant of the game in South Africa and has led his country with distinction since returning to the Green and Gold.”
“When he returned to the game earlier this season, he set his goals on becoming a Springbok yet again and he’s worked extremely hard to get there. I don’t think anyone can doubt that he deserves his place in the team and he’s also been a great interim captain, with Jean de Villiers out injured.”
Matfield, who is also the most-capped Vodacom Super Rugby player in South Africa, will captain a Springbok starting line-up which shows two changes from the team which beat Wales by 38-16 in Durban last week.
Both changes are in the pack, where Tendai Mtawarira returns at loosehead prop, with Gurthrö Steenkamp reverting to the bench, while Flip van der Merwe will partner Matfield in the second row in the place of Bakkies Botha.
The only other change to the team is amongst the backline reserves, where Wynand Olivier replaces the injured Johan Goosen to provide necessary midfield cover. Ruan Pienaar will provide backup for scrumhalf and flyhalf, while Lwazi Mvovo can cover fullback and wing.
Commenting on the team selection, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said it was an easy decision to stick with the core of the team which beat the Welsh last weekend in Durban.
“I’ve always preferred to stick with a winning combination and the changes to the team were both part of our planning,” said Meyer.
“The backline really performed well last weekend and we would like to give them another opportunity to play together, as there were a number of new combinations.”
“The same applies upfront. Bakkies is fit for selection, but we decided to manage his workload this week and I know Flip, who has been outstanding in the last two seasons, will slot back in easily. The same goes for ‘Beast’, who upped the tempo with his work rate last weekend.”
Meyer said he is expecting another tough challenge from Wales this weekend.
“They’ve had another week together and will be keen to lift their game on Saturday, but at the same time we were not happy with certain aspects of our game and we’ve worked hard to rectify that,” said Meyer.
“This is their last match of the season, so we’re expecting them to come out firing. But we also want to make a step up and ensure we keep on improving as the season progresses.”
Springbok team:
15 Willie le Roux – (13 caps, 25 Test points)
14 Cornal Hendricks – (1 cap, 5 Test points)
13 JP Pietersen – (52 caps, 80 Test points)
12 Jan Serfontein – (10 caps, 5Test points)
11 Bryan Habana – (96 caps, 275 Test points)
10 Morné Steyn – (55 caps, 649 Test points)
9 Fourie du Preez – (Vice-captain, 68 caps, 75 Test points)
8 Duane Vermeulen – (17 caps, 10 Test points)
7 Willem Alberts – (31 caps, 35 Test points)
6 Francois Louw – (29 caps, 25 Test points)
5 Victor Matfield – (Captain, 111 caps, 35 Test points)
4 Flip van der Merwe – (34 caps, 5 Test points)
3 Jannie du Plessis – (52 caps, 5 Test points)
2 Bismarck du Plessis (Vice-captain, 58 caps, 45 Test points)
1 Tendai Mtawarira – (54 caps, 10 Test points)
Replacements:
16 Schalk Brits – (6 caps, 0 Test points)
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp – (50 caps, 30 Test points)
18 Coenie Oosthuizen – (15 caps, 10 Test points)
19 Lood de Jager – (1 cap, 0 Test points)
20 Schalk Burger – (69 caps, 65 Test points)
21 Ruan Pienaar – (75 caps, 130 Test points)
22 Wynand Olivier – (37 caps, 5 Test points)
23 Lwazi Mvovo – (8 caps, 5 Test points)
Date: Saturday 21 June
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-Off: 15:00 SA Time (14:00 BST, 13:00 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Romain Poite (France), Francesco Pastrana (Argentina)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 681 Test caps (295 in the backline and 386 in the forwards), while there are a further 261 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Wales have played each other 28 times since 1906, with the Springboks winning 26 Tests, losing one and one was drawn. The Springboks have scored 777 points and 97 tries and conceded 398 points and 33 tries for an average score of 28-14.
- Victor Matfield will be playing in his 112th Test for the Springboks, breaking the record he shared with John Smit. He will be playing against Wales for the 12th time and will also extend his record of 111 appearances as a lock for South Africa.
- Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 95 Tests in this position and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 55 Test tries for South Africa. He has also played in one Test at outside centre.
- Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 53 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, he will also extend his record of eight Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa.
- If he scores a try, Bismarck du Plessis will extend his record of nine test tries for South Africa as a hooker. Bismarck and his brother Jannie will also be playing together in their 33rd Test, which is a Springbok record for brothers.
- Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis will extend their record of 15 Tests as a front row for South Africa.
- If he goes on Schalk Burger will extend his record as the most capped Springbok flank, with 67 Tests in this position. He also shares the record with Juan Smith for the most Test tries as a flank (11).
- If he goes on and scores a try, Gurthrö Steenkamp will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
- Ruan Pienaar, Schalk Burger and Flip van der Merwe are the sons of ex-Springboks Gysie Pienaar, Schalk Burger (Snr) and Flippie van der Merwe (Snr), while Francois Louw is the grandson of ex-Springbok Jan Pickard.
- Wynand Olivier last played for the Springboks on 23 June 2012 against England in Port Elizabeth.
- The referee is Steve Walsh of Australia (previously New Zealand). This will be his 16th Test involving South Africa. The Springboks have won 11, lost one and three were drawn. His last game was the Test against Argentina on 24 August 2013 in Mendoza, which the Boks won 22-17.
Springbok Test match records at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit :
- Most points – 10 (2c, 2p) by Morne Steyn on 15 June, 2013 against Scotland.
- Most tries – one each by JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein on 15 June, 2013 against Scotland.
- Most conversions – two by Morne Steyn on 15 June, 2013 against Scotland.
- Most penalty goals – two by Morne Steyn on 15 June, 2013 against Scotland.
- Most drop goals – none
Aussies just took the lead, now the Dutch has equalized.
Quite a game, give these Aussies their due, they are here to play
full back is willie, zane, aplon, taute
wings habana, cornall, basson, jpp, mvovu,
center jdv, mossie, jdj, jj, jan, jpp, fransie.
flyhalf: morne, pat, jantjies, goosen,
scrumhalf: jano, piet van zyl, hougie, fdp, pienaar
loose forwards: kolisis, botha, duane, coetzee, flo, schalk, pottie, alberts, keegan cullen
locks: psdt, eben, kruger, bakkies, victor, flip, lood
hookers: bissie, strauss, britz
props: beast, jannie, trevor, adriaanse, coenie, malherbe, kirsten, pat,
I am sure I missed a few, but people who keep saying we keep going back to the “old” players instead of building depth are out of their farking mind.
@ nortierd:
Sorry man was rude of me not to answer your initial post with a greeting in return, howzit man. Come on please put me out of my misery as have been wondering for ages and asked earlier on the post – do we know if the overseas based Boks will be available for the Scotland game?
@ Bullscot:
I also forgot Fransie, who was also ahead of them
@ Bullscot:
😀 no worries
There have been no reports to suggest otherwise, so I’m guessing HM will pick his strongest line up.
Maybe he gives one or 2 players like Bissie, Alberts or Jannie a break, but I don’t think it’s necessary, if their SR franchise doesn’t think they need a break, then the national coach most definately doesn’t have to think so.
Strongest team for the Bokke always first and foremost
MacroBok wrote:
Who?
35 @ nortierd:
I say play them till full time! We can’t win without them
Gosh Australia farked that up!
wow
@ MacroBok:
What’s the score there?
What a strike
Poor keeping, it must be said
Bullscot wrote:
3-2 for the Netherlands now
Great game
@ Bullscot:
Aus nearly scored but the hesitated, netherlands played it quickly and scored at the other end, score is now 3-2 to the Netherlands
My pick was 3-1 for the Dutch
Need them to score one more to get the margin
Aussies surprising everyone here
MacroBok wrote:
That goal was from further out than Fransie used to slot penalties before his dodgy knees
😀
I think the Dutch will drive home the advantage now
@ nortierd:
haha you mean in the first half of every rugby game?
Wow must be a good game then, sounds like the Socceroos are doing better than thought they would. Pretty good for Netherland though that’s 8 goals so far in the two games
@ MacroBok:
Give the Aussies their due, they are hanging in and are playing great football.
Love their never say die attitude when it comes to sport, for a small country they punch way above their weight
hahahahahahahaha kyk hoe val daai ou haha
Now the Aussies are diving like Gio during an off season, only not for perlemoen
MB, have you seen their boots?
It’s like they are playing barefoot and the boot is painted on
naand folks.
Just a quick in and out for a chat.
Jis, enjoyed the Durbs Test on saturday arv. Second and third review just as enjoyable. Maybe even a fourth on H/L package. HM starting to tick like many of us had hoped he would. Like the style. Tries scored out wide. Jan was good which was heartening. Not to mention Willie and Habs. Now for a run of consistency. Then my nerves’ shelf-life will be prolonged for a few more years.
@ nortierd: Hullo Nortie. How Tswane boet? Missing the Cape, not? Weather damn foul and the pitches a mudbath(as expected this time of year). Fire blazing which is what sensible people do. Enjoy the rugfest over the naweek?
@ Tassies:
Gosh Habana has been good, cant think of a local wing who would play him out of the team.
@ nortierd: where? Down Horston way? All fished out bud. Niks. Nada. Nuffink on the rocks any more. If he’s hungry best he hit the nearest KFC.
Speaking of Perlemoen, I’m still seeing the stuff in HK in tanks marked ex-SA. So, in spite of what I’ve just said, its coming from somewhere back here sadly.
@ Tassies:
Hello daar Tassies
Missing the Cape winters like you won’t believe, especially the rain.
Saw photos of some of the club fields this weekend, jeez, looks like a dam more than a rugby field.
Rugby was great, nice to see us play lekker rugby, hoping for more of the same this Saturday
@ MacroBok: That be very true. Some write him off at their own peril and embarrassment. Sticking my neck out(a little bit) I’d say he’s the finest SA wing man I’ve ever seen. AND I’ve seen some. Oom Carel included.
@ Tassies:
56
Yep, all shucked out, very sad.
Where’s the days when we went down to Hangklip, got our 4 each and still, in the wetsuit, cleaned them and had a lekker fresh bread and perlemoen sarmie
@ Tassies:
It is a shame about that 2 year slump he had, but for the pure longevity of his career and how long he has managed to stay at his peak it is extraordinary at international level.
I think he really got a reality check with that dive he made in the HC final, it was humiliating for him, and he has really manned up.
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