Who’s the man!! Victor Matfield celebrating the 2007 World Cup victory.

He is 37, last played a Test match in Australia four years ago — and he’s standing in the way of the Wallabies and redemption.

Victor Matfield, the legendary lock who will suit up for the Springboks on Saturday night, is one of world rugby’s all-time greats.

He’s been off the Wallabies’ radar for a while, understandable given that he retired from all rugby at the end of 2011. But after dusting off his boots at the start of the year he’s back firmly in their sights.

HE’S BEEN LABELLED A MAN OF STEEL

There’s adding steel to the Springboks pack, and then there’s literally adding steel to the Springboks pack.

Fox Sports

The second refers to allegations raised during the 2005 Tri-Nations series that Matfield had been using a steel plate in the armguard he wore while playing for South Africa.

According to an AFP article at the time, former Sharks Super 12 coach Kevin Putt reportedly made the claim on New Zealand television in the wake of the All Blacks’ loss to South Africa in Cape Town.

Then South Africa coach Jake White dismissed the suggestion that Matfield had used the plate as “laughable” and “ridiculous”.

“It’s laughable that someone could even think international sports people would try those sort of hoaxes,” White said.

Putt later apologised for making the claims.

HE PLAYS THROUGH THE PAIN BARRIER

There’s tough, and then there’s playing 74 minutes of a brutal Test match with a broken rib. That’s exactly what Matfield did in 2010, against England at Twickenham.

“It was painful, but I resolved that I would have to play through the pain as it was important for us to win this game. I just tried to avoid contact as much as I could, but that wasn’t always possible,” Matfield said after the match.

When coach Peter de Villiers learned of Matfield’s injury he didn’t even try to bring his captain off.

“I just kept quiet because I knew he’d never come off even if I tried to take him off,” de Villiers said.

Matfield stayed on, and the Springboks claimed a famous 21-11 victory.

HE SCORES FREAKISH CHIP-N-CHASE TRIES

Rugby players who stand at more than two metres tall and tip the scales at 110 kilograms, aren’t also supposed to be blessed with silky skills.

So how do you explain Matfield having not one, but two brilliant chip-and-chase efforts on his resume?

The first was a solo effort for the Bulls against the Waratahs way back in 2001, Matfield breaking into the clear and throwing the ball on to his boot to chip no less than Wallabies great Matthew Burke before regathering to score.

It took him a few years to prove that it was no fluke, but it was worth the wait, Matfield digging into his bag of tricks for the Springboks against the Wallabies in 2010.

This time he turned provider, handing off to teammate Jaque Fourie to score after another brilliant chip and regather.

HE HAS NO PEER AT LINEOUT TIME

He has been labelled the greatest lineout general in rugby history, and it’s for good reason.

His size and athleticism make him the perfect target when his side is throwing in, an obvious advantage for the Springboks given their love of driving mauls.

But it’s his uncanny ability to disrupt opposition ball that makes him the ultimate set-piece threat.

Rookie Wallabies hooker James Hanson wouldn’t be the first Test No. 2 to have sleepless nights thinking about how to keep the ball away from Matfield’s hands.

He demonstrated that he had lost none of that nous on his return to the Test arena for South Africa in June. He was the Springboks leading lineout jumper in the clashes with Wales and Scotland, winning 25 lineouts including one steal.

HE’S NOT DONE YET

Matfield retired in 2011 as one of world rugby’s most decorated players. He had won a Rugby World Cup (2007) two Tri-Nations (2004, 2009) and beaten the British and Irish Lions (2009) with the Springboks, as well as claiming three Super Rugby titles with the Bulls (2007, 2009, 2010).

Normally that would be enough to sate even the most hungry of rugby appetites. Not Matfield, who stunned the rugby world at the start of 2014 when he announced that he would be returning to play after two years on the sidelines.

Since his comeback he has overtaken John Smit as South Africa’s most-capped Test player, and he wants even more, having set his sights on playing for the Springboks at next year’s World Cup in England. He’ll be 38.