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
@ nortierd: Ja, this place is like a bog. Personally, I hate winter. Give me the Namib long before the Arctic. Very long.
Mrs was complaining about the amount of rugga a bloke can watch in one day. And then more on sunday morning. I said: “sweetheart, this is like heaven arrived early. Go and find a boyfriend somewhere and leave me in peace”.
@ nortierd: was a crayfish man myself. Never took out a perly. Now the kreef are scarcer than hens teeth down at Kom when I last took a boat out.
@ Tassies:61
Ha ha
Was lovely pulling the Father’s Day card and having them wait till the Bokkies finished up before going out.
I’ve found an easier way, I go into the office on Saturdays, we are on overtime, so I don’t work these long weekday hours, go in on Saturday with the Walka and watch the AB’s and then clock off after the Aussie game has finished.
Tassies wrote:
Crayfish was easy, especially during my Neptune days.
Take the duck out around Hawston area, check the nets that the guys leave when they see us and pick out one or two for the braai 😀
You must see the size of the ones in the new Harbour in Hermanus, well when diving there wasn’t allowed, I’m sure today anything goes.
@ MacroBok: I think the Stormers playing style played a role. just a theory. Its all about confidence. My educated guess is; his game is being influenced by Willie. They feed off each other. fantastic to watch. Long time since I enjoyed SB attacking play like I’m doing curently.
@ Tassies:
” the Stormers playing style”
That sounds a lot like an oxymoron
😉
@ nortierd: smart man. I do the same but watch it on my MacBook. No other option. Not ideal but works. I was really concerned with all that all-out kicking tactic in the first half on sunday. Bokkies were definitely sucking hind tit at the change. Then they changed a gear. Pollard was brilliant. How the hell our local plonkers didn’t spot and sign him when he was a kid in Paarl I still can’t fathom. Now he’s forced to play in pink. 🙁
@ nortierd: those days are long over mate. Just memories.
@ nortierd: moronic and oxy starved for sure. But there’s hope. Time is a great healer.
@ Tassies:
Pollard has been great.
The Bulls are being smart with him, it must be said.
Threw him into the deep end last year with a weak CC side and he looked shaky, we were all going on about he was no loss etc 😀
Gave him a taste then, gave him some good cameos during the SR this year in which he did well, and they will be ready to unleash him as first choice soon.
I can see him touring with the Boks EOYT, going to be a great if he stays injury free.
We missed out on him and on Timo, and I see Gary is going to the Kings, which is a fair call, he is behind in the pecking order, but only due to all his injuries
Noetie, I’m going to say goodnight boet.
Bought Kaplan’s book about four hours ago and have only managed to read the “forewards”. All four of them. In the car. Craig Joub, Mallett, Victor and Jake all waxed lyrical about the boy with the silver flash. Now I’m dying to understand for myself. PS. apparently he was a big Louis Luyt fan. 😕
cheers
Tassies wrote:
I’m also busy with it, bought it for myself for Father’s Day, I don’t wear ties, so it’s safer to pick my own gift out
@ Tassies:
Cheers
Now for Chile to send Spain home. I see another upset coming.
IAAS wrote:
I went big in this game, picked Spain to win 5-0
They need to bounce back and bounce back big if they want any chance
@ IAAS:
The England team face 2 tough decisions after tomorrows game.
Window seat or aisle
chicken or beef
After Wayne Rooneys dismal performance against Italy, his wife Colleen has decided to fly to Brazil to be with him for the rest of the England campaign. Thats a hell of a long way to go for the weekend.
@ nortierd:
I’m backing Chile – only because I pulled them in the office draw. Each guy R100 in and pulls 2 teams. My second team is Germany. Hopefully they meet in the final. 😆
@ nortierd:
hahaha at window or aisle.
England have a massive battle on their hands. But so does Uruguay. I just don’t want to see Suarez come out on the winning side.
@ IAAS:
The Germans, great pick for you
Always my WC side
All Blacks – 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ryan Crotty.
@ nortierd:
Read to play his first test this year and Fekitoa in place of Conrad.
I wonder if this will be the game where the AB’s really bury England?
They need to lay down the marker and get at least one win by a decent margin, otherwise England will take more out of the series by losing by so little away from home against NZ.
IAAS wrote:
Suarez is good bloke… he is only very competitive 🙂
Spanish eyes are crying ?
@ robzim:
at the moment I am right behind the Red Hot Chilli Boys 😎
IAAS wrote:
Same here.. any nation that has a team like Real Madrid only deserve to lose 🙂
nortierd wrote:
Spain 5-0? ,,, lol.. Tough luck… u can’t win ’em all 🙂
In the Poofball World Cup, Chile beat Spain 2 / 0, sending both defending World Cup champs Spain and Australia out of the competition.
These are the 1st two sides officially out of the race now.
There WILL be a new World Cup champion in the tournament, that has now been established!
robzim wrote:
Ha ha
That’s the truth
Wow, quite a result this
MacroBok wrote:
Best move he made was to leave the Cape
@ nortierd:
81
The match betting improved actually in favour of the Poms?!
From a 11:1 on the 2nd Test to a 5:1 for the 3rd Test, it means; 1, the odds makers believe now that the referee DOES have a say in the results and 2. the the changes in the ABs’ selection weaken the home team
@ superBul:
89
Habana is always a great finisher plus, but he spent most of last season on the injury list or on the bench behind Mitchell, speaking money wise he more than tripled his income leaving the cape ,the escape from AC was just a bonus 😉
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