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
@ Pietman:
nee man burton het u19 vir die bulle gespeel, hy was akedemie week toe op skool by die luiperds.
Oh fark…. half fit Luis Suarez doing it again.
England on their way back to the plane?
@ Pietman:
@ MacroBok:
Francis Burton, ja.
So, dit was nie Elgar Watts nie.
robzim wrote:
Chicken or beef?
nortierd wrote:
Rof broer, rof!
Adri Geldenhuys, Armand du Preez, oorle Domkrag, China Bell, Pote Human, Harodl Karele….almal was polisiemanne of panelbeaters…
@ Pietman:
2008–09 Blue Bulls 27 (209)
2008–09 Bulls 9 (14)
2010–11 Lions 12 (52)
2010–11 Golden Lions 15 (119)
2012 Stormers 6 (0)
2012 Western Province 1 (0)
2012 → SWD Eagles 4 (11)
2013 Griquas 0 (0)
2013 Cheetahs 6 (62)
2013– Agen
MacroBok wrote:
Jy seker.
Hy het in die Paarl skoolgegaan, of nie?
Pietman wrote:
As jy n Klipspacher was, was dit dieselfde ding
Pietman wrote:
@ Nama:
Francis Burton…Burton Francis
Potato…PotAtoe
@ Pietman:
van wikipedia
“At youth level, he represented Boland Cavaliers at the 2004 Under-18 Academy Week. He moved to the Leopards in 2005 and played for them in the 2005 Under-18 Craven Week tournament, which also lead to his inclusion in the S.A. Schools B team. He also represented the Leopards in the Under-19 Provincial Championship tournament.
In 2006, he joined the Blue Bulls and played for them at Under-19 and Under-21 level.”
@ MacroBok:
2216
Wies daai, Francis?
O ok dankie man.
So, hy speel nog, in Frankryk.
@ MacroBok:
@221 Dankie Macro, dis interessant.
Ek sou my kop op n blok sit….nou wie is dan die man wat onder Dollie gespeel en later gewaai het uit die Kaap?
Of het ek nou die kat by die knaters beet?
@ Pietman:
dollie het gewaai by die kaap 😛
@ Ben:
Ag wat, altwee het maar net BB land toe gehol omdat WP nie bereid was om senior spelers se salarisse te sny om vir jong “appies” buitensporige geld te betaal nie. Ons het ook nie ingegee toe hulle aandring om in hul eerste jaar vir die senior span te speel nie.
Ok manne, dankie eers.
Laat ek hierdie tee en pille sluk en induik, ek is n mannetjie wat eintlik op siekverlof is.
Gooi mielies!
Tjeers.
@ Pietman:
I see burton was playing with louis ludik and ross skeate this year, his club agen were second in dvision 2 rugby in france and are in the promotion play offs to get in the top 14 next year
@ Nama:
wp moes almal se salarisse sny om habana te koop
@ Pietman:
Cheers Pietman, word gou beter
MacroBok wrote:
En om Elton en Taute te betaal…
@ Pietman:
en om AC, fleckie en proudfoot nog 4 jaar kontrakte te gee
MacroBok wrote:
dankie, ek is reg….moet net die steke laat trek nog.
@ Pietman:
Volgens my kennis is beide Francis en Coleman van die Paarl.
Dit was mos laasjaar wat hy die strafskop in die laaste sekondes vir die Cheetah oorgeskop het. Cheetahs se heel eerste oorwinning oor Stormers.
Lyk wel of hy nie in WP se juniors was nie, volgens Macro se stats. Verras my ook, maar ons weet die Bulle gaan haal hulle klein-klein by die Weskus/Boland.
Cheers Pietman.
@ Nama:233
Sal nie verbaas wees as hulle al Schalla se kind n kontrak aangebied het nie
@ MacroBok:
Hahaha… goeie een, maar nie rerig nie. Ons het sommer vir Jaques Fourie ook gekoop daai tyd met die kleingeld uit die gatsak.
As rugby nou ook soos sokker gewerk het, kon WP ‘n moerse klomp geld gemaak het toe daai twee manne oorsee gaan.
@ Nama:233
Hoe dink jy het Garsfontein in die top 3 skole gekom?
Daai span wemel van die Capies, al begin toe my dogter graad 9 was, hulle het die vorige jaar met oor n 100 teen Waterkloof verloor, hierdie jaar vir Waterkloof vir die eerste keer geklop, alles binne so 5-6 jaar vandat hulle in die Kaap gaan shop het, en dit werk
@ nortierd:
…en Habana se komende kleintjie.
@Robzim
I hope you have a backup team, because this England side is really poor.
Except for this save, Hart is as ungainly as a giraffe on PCP
@ nortierd:
He’s in…h’s wide.
Eng kak af hier.
Jislaaik! Was Naas nie ook ‘n Garsfonteiner nie?
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