Matfield, who was part of the 2007 World Cup winning squad, reacted to the debate initiated by Sports Science Institute of South Africa Professor, Tim Noakes, that the Springboks were overplayed and exhausted, resulting in their poor results in their European tour in November.
“It’s difficult to say we needed to rest during the end of year tour. I mean, how do you willingly miss a Springbok Test?” Matfield said.
“If you need to be rested, then surely it isn’t when the Springboks play – those are the most important games to play for any player, to represent your country.
Noakes further warned that the Boks were burnt out and should not have toured, and that this will hamper them in their quest to retain the Webb Ellis Cup next year in New Zealand.
But while the veteran Bok lock agreed that a rest period before the World Cup was necessary, he questioned the value of resting Springboks when the national team has fixtures. The Bok lock rather believes that if the results were better on last year’s tour, there would be no outcry.
“When we get closer to the World Cup, then there is definitely merit on being rested and we accept that. But to be honest, I don’t think that is the reason there has been so much said – it is rather because the tour didn’t go as well as planned and we didn’t get the results we needed.”
Matfield acknowledged that he will be working with the Bulls medical team to decide when he will rest in the Super 14. “It is likely that I won’t play in all the games in the tournament,” he added.
But one aspect that Matfield is adamant on, is the theory among some analysts that the Springboks, because of their poor end of season showing, are on a downward spiral.
“I don’t think so,” Matfield added. “Anyone can have an off game and we didn’t play as well as we would have wanted on tour. We didn’t meet our own standards as a team, but against Ireland, Beast was almost over the line in the last minute of the game and we could have won, then everyone would have said it was a wonderful win.
“Our lineouts against Ireland were probably the worst of any Test I’ve been involved in, but it is at least something that we can rectify.”
The Bok lock will lead his Bulls side into the Super 14 this year in the hope to retain the title they won so emphatically last season.
From News24.
Victor ‘Jan’ Matfield just needed some new ‘springs’ for the Irish game, it was like his legs had gone!
Have just seen a old clip from a press conference when Victor said “When I was a little girl growing up I used to watch the All Blacks”!! 😯
Is there something you guys should have told me?
John Smit sitting next to him sniggered but did not say anything!!
That try in the 2nd half against the Chiefs in the Final was for me what Victor was the whole year, determination personified.
Well Matfield is just highlighting what i have been saying all along. Rest the boks, but not during internationals.
The best available team must always play in internationals.
3 Snoek, if the Boks were rested then the VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT would have won the CC.
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