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 wrote:
Iemand het my ‘Black on White’van Jacob Westerman geleen, en nou weet ek nie wie nie….dis hoekom ek nie graag my boeke uitleen nie.
Sal maar weer een moet koop vir my versameling.
My eerste boek was ‘Die Leeus keil ons op”van Danie Craven.
@ Pietman:149
Dit sal nice wees, maar hopelik met Dobson as afrigter
@ Pietman:151
Jake se boek was n lekker lees, kyk, die man het vir ons n WB gewen, so hy sal altyd ok wees in my boek.
Maar vandat hy by daai last outpost so baie te se het, hou ek minder van hom……seker maar die company that he keeps 😉
@ nortierd:
Ja nee, niemand betwyfel sy talent nie, ek glo net hy het alterior motiewe by die haaie… dit laat my ietwat uneasy voel, en dit is frustreerend dat ander mense dit nie kan sien nie.
@ MacroBok:154
Niemand is so blind soos die wat nie wil sien nie.
@ nortierd:
@153 Ek was in Rondebosch oppad Varsity Cup toe by Ikeys, toe Jake daar by die boekwinkel my n ondertekende kopie gegee het (was nog op special, R179 dink ek). Ek wou 2 koop, maar daar was n tekort, die mense het mekaar vertrap kan jy glo!
Ek het aangebied op Voldy om een te skenk aan my vriend Skopskiet (hy was dieselfde Maandagaand ook by die varsityrugby en ek wou dit daar aan hom oorhandig) maar hy het op sy gewone fuckadilly manier my aanbod blitsvinnig en hoflik van die hand gewys…
@ Pietman:156
Ha ha ha
Ek kan net dink….. Skoppie met n getekende boek van Jake the snake, daai snake oil salesman 😀
Ek dink Skopskiet sal eerder n lekker tjoppie met so n randjie vet of selfs n boerewors roll eet voor hy Jake se hand sal skud
nortierd wrote:
Ek het PdeV se boek geniet, veral sy vertellinge oor Cheeky Watson se voortdurende ”opdrukkery” om Luke te kies. Cheeky het tot saamgetoer en in dieselfde hotel geslaap daai keer toe ons die eerste keer n toets in die ‘House of Pain”gewen het (waar is dit nou weer, Dunedin dink ek?) met Ricky se wendrie.
@ Pietman:
Divvie se boek was goed.
As jy ooit op die boek Winter Colours deur Donald McRae afkom, koop dit.
Dis n ou boek, net so paar jaar na die ’95 WB uitgekom, maar n fantastiese boek. Hy is n Pulitzer Prize skrywer en het vir so n jaar n paar spelers, onder andere James Small, gevolg net so na die ontstaan van professionele rugby.
Fantasties geskryf en n great lees.
@ nortierd:
@ MacroBok:
Siejy, sal julle nou die Sharkies so kasty?
Julle is net janloers oorlat hulle sie 2014 Super Rugby kampioene gaan wees. Golden Era, here we come!
@ nortierd:
@159 Dankie.
Sal beslis daar in Langstraat by daai plek van jou gaan soek as ek weer in die Kaap kom. Wat is die naam nou weer, Tommy’s of Johnny’s?
Ek wonder of McRae familie is van Duncan McRae (Skotse en Leeus senter)? Hier werk n Liam Patterson saam met my, neef van Chris (Skotse toetsspeler), hy is n rugby boekwurm en gaan binnekort terug op vakansie Edinburgh toe, kan hom vra om die boek te soek.
@ Nama:160
Hello Nama, hoe gaan dinge?
Ek en Macrobull gaan soos daai 2 goedjies in Disney se Hercules voor Puma en S_L moet kniel en se “we are not worthy, we are not worthy” wanneer daai SR trofee daar in Durban land
@ Nama:
Jisja, jy darem weer krag by die huis n slag?
Sien ou GBS sit in die duister daar by die Panne, hom se Lister enjintjie loop volstoom, hehehehe!
@ Pietman:
Vergeet van Tommy’s, begin daar, maar stap berg se kant toe en heel laaste, aan dieselfde kant as Tommy’s is Select Books. Daai plek is soos manna uit die hemel vir enige rugby liefhebber. Beste boeke in SA in my opinie.
Ek kom mos maar min daar, maar ek het Anton Oliver, Christian Cullen, Matthew Burke, Jonah Lomu, Carlos Spencer, Murray Mexted en nog ander se boeke daar gekry.
Ek raak soos n kid in a candy store as ek daar inloop
@ nortierd:
Baie bedrywig nou, soos jy kan dink. Glads bang om op die site te kom. Te bang vir die tyd wat ek hier sal “vermors” instede van te werk.
PS: Verder gaan dit heel orraait. Die Bokke wen.
@ nortierd:
@164
@ Pietman:
Ja, die krag het darem nog nie weer probleme gegee na nou die aand nie. Ek hoop maar dit bly so, want dit raak piskoud in die aand veral.
@ Nama:165
En die All Blacks verloor amper…ons wen met mooi rugby, dit maak dit nog beter.
En natuurlik, daai Jong Bokkies van ons….lyk my ons Capies begin nou eers sien wat ons in Pollard op uit mis, daai outjie gaan nog n grote in Bok rugby word as hy beseringsvry kan bly
@ Nama:
Koue kan ek nog hanteer…krag met net nie afgaan as die rugby aan is nie!
Dis wat eenkeer met my gebeur het, toe moes ek twee bottles OBs drink, een vir koue en een van bedonnerdgeit!
@ nortierd:
Ja, Pollard beginne goed lyk, maar onthou, hy speel nou nog in sy ouderdomsgroep. Men moet om vadersnaam nou nie sy vertonings daar kyk en hom ‘n Bok wil maak nie. Ons wag nog vir Janneman om werklik sy merk te maak, DRIE jaar nadat hy Junior Speler van die Jaar was. Laat Pollard maar eers daar klaar jol en hom dan rerig in senior rugby kom bewys volgende jaar.
163 @ Pietman:
Ons het darem nou weer krag… maar dis elke keer ‘n fokkop man, ek moet dit en dat eers afsit, dan die lang elektriese koord uitrol, dan die Groot Breaker by die Elektrisiteitsboks buite die huis gaan afsit, dan die Genny start en sorg dat hy mooi loop op 220 Volt… dan sy tripswitch aansit…
Dan weer kantoor toe, die DB Box se hoofskakelaar gaan aansit en elke fokken PC, DSTV Decoder, ADSL Router, Hubs en Netwerk en goed weer aansit, Persoonlike PC en Notebook weer opstart…
Dit fok mens geweldig rond!
@ Pietman:169
@ Nama:170
Ek besef hy is nou in sy ouderdom, ,aar die Bulle bestuur hom mooi, verlede jaar hom in die diep kant ingegooi met n swakkerige jong CC squad, nou vir hom ingebring in die SR waar hy heel goed lyk.
Een van die dae is hy hulle eerste keuse 10 met baie vertroue en redelike ondervinding agter die blad.
@ Pietman:
Hulle se met die onlangse koue het Sutherland se hotelbaas op die stoep uitgegaan met ‘n bottel witwyn (sy gewone middag snapsie) en ‘n bottel OBS om sy daaglikse sopie te geniet. Hy moes toe vinnig weer ingaan omdat hy vergeet het om ‘n oproep te beantwoord. Toe hy na so 3 minute terugkom, was die witwyn gevries en die OBS bottel leeg.
Die tuinwerker was lekker warm.
grootblousmile wrote:
As ek deur al daai kak moet gaan net om iets te skryf, gaan koop ek vir my n full scab, n seel en n koevert en skryf maar n old fashioned brief en pos die bleddie ding 😀
142 MacroBok wrote:
En wat van die dag as die Stormers die super15 wen, dan is dit ‘n gay parade ?
@ Nama:
@ nortierd:
Pollard se Pa was op n kol gereeld hier op RT, die ou is clued up met die laaitie se dinge, ek dink hy sal hom die regte raad gee (soos n goeie onderwyser betaam!)
Pollie Snr het self ook WP Cravens gespeel, was nogal kaptein daai tyd, saam met Carel Doep hulle.
Ek sien nou die dag op tv hy is daar langs die veld in NZ.
Ben wrote:
Ja nee, hulle gaan almal so agtermekaar deur die strate loop
Hoop ons klap die Engelse en dat die manne nie oorgerus is na 2 oorwinnings oor die AB (always Babas) nie.
@ nortierd:
Dis wat ek wil sien. Laat hy eers volgende jaar eerste keuse word by die Bulle en dan konstnte goeie vertonings lewer. Ons moet egter ook waak daarteen dat ons hom nie in ‘n tweede Liefling verander nie. Onthou hoe Liefling in 2002 die CC vir die Bulle op 19 jarige ouderdom gewen het en almal hom in 2003 se WB span gesoek het.
Maak liewer vir Pollard groot vir na 2015 WB. Moet my net nie vra wie Morne se adjunk moet wees nie. Ons weet mos nou dis Lambie.
@ Pietman:176
Ek begin al hoe meer van daai laaitie hou en begin sien wat al die hoo-hah oor gegaan het.
Hy lyk al hoe meer na n class act.
Ek hoor wat Nama se, veral na al die ophef oor Goosen, maar Pollard lyk soos die real deal
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