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
Nama wrote:
Hulle gaan eers met die Sharks oor daai een moet baklei
Tweede groot kans vir Rooney om sy eier te breek. Goeie keerslag deur die goalie.
Nama wrote:
Sy dogter was daar saam met myne.
Johan Ackerman se laaitie is daar
@ nortierd:
Poor Wayne Rooney seems jinxed in wc soccer…just cannot get the ball in the net despite coming desperately close on about 3 occasions tonight.
233 @ Nama:
hehe dis bloot natuurlik dat spanne spelers uit die boland, suid kaap, oos kaap gaan haal, want dit is waar die grootste konsentrasie spelers gehou word, as niemand hulle gaan haal het nie het willie le roux seker nog vodacom cup gespeel 🙂
SuperBru note to self: don’t pick any African sides to win and for heavens sake, don’t pick England to win.
I’m falling so fast and hard down the pool I need a parachute
robzim wrote:
I know some who would say it couldn’t have happened to a better person.
I understand Ronaldo is pulling a Fransie…dodgy knee and doesn’t want to play for his country
@ nortierd:
Hoop maar net die laaities besef dat hulle nie almal ‘n rugby kontrak sal kry as hulle klaar is met skool nie.
@ Nama:
As rugby soos sokker gewerk het kon die bulle elke springbok speler die jaar gekoop het met al die geld wat hulle kon maak die laast 3 jaar uit die Franse uit.
nortierd wrote:
Uruguay and The Netherlands are my “backup” teams.. Most Liverpool supporters have a soft spot for Uruguay … his name is Suarez 🙂
Nama wrote:
Ek het einde verlede jaar met n paar van hulle gepraat by een van die prysuitdelings, een is Sharks toe, een na die Lions en een na die Pumas, dis nou die wat verlede jaar gematrikuleer het.
Wat my opgeval het is dat nie een n Bull kontrak gekry het nie, en nie een terug Kaap toe is nie.
@ robzim:250
Lol, the same one being booed tonight?
@ nortierd:
Dit is wel n goeie skool en n goeie geleentheid… dink jy regtig een van hulle kan kla?
@Nortie
Ek verstaan dit net nooit as mense vir Engeland ondersteun by ‘n SWB nie. Ek het ‘n neef wat dieselfde doen. Ek bejammer hom maar net.
@ MacroBok:
Ja, maar nie almal het dieselfde waarde nie. Sommige sou “free agents” gewees het. Jy gee hulle sommer verniet weg.
MacroBok wrote:
Nee, hulle het n helse verskil aan Garsies se rugby gemaak.
nortierd wrote:
He is hated in England except at Anfield where he has god like status.
Might be off to Read Madrid next season though… for the small amount of £ 70 million +
Cheers mense, ek sal maar more oggend kyk hoe lyk al die rooi pyltjies op my SuperBru en hoe ver ek geval het.
@ Nama:
hehe n super 14 medalje is ‘n goeie onderhandels middel, vra vir habana ;P
@ nortierd:
ja dit is die rugby, maar ook die gewone skool goed wat hul dalk nie normaalweg sou gehad het nie.
@ MacroBok:
Ek sou dink dat daar van hulle kan wees wat sekere verwagtinge het omdat hulle met ‘n sport-/rugbybeurs daarheen gelok word. Miskien is hy akedemies nie so goed aangele nie.
Daarom my standpunt oor die feit dat hulle moet besef dat nie almal rugb kontrakte gaan kry as hulle klaar is nie. ‘n Mens weet ook nooit watse “beloftes” die scouts aan die laaities se ouers gaan maak as hulle lop werf nie.
@ nortierd:
cheers nortie lekke slaap
nag robzim, grootblousmile, superBul, Just For Kicks, nortierd, Nama, 8 Guests, 11 Bots sommer aan julle almal
261 @ MacroBok:
Tjorts Moooosa!
Daar breek Rooney sy eier. Wag vir die 2de een kort voor die einde.
ROONEY !!!!
@ MacroBok:
Cheers
@ MacroBok:
Sharp-sharp. Lekker rus.
Nama wrote:
Nou spring daai neef van jou op en af 🙂
@ Nama:
ja ek weet daar kan telleustelling wees, ek weet ook nie wie betrokke is met die werf van hierdie spelers en watse beloftes aan hulle gemaak word nie.
maar dit is nie asof hulle op 14 na ‘n rugby akademie toe gestuur word nie, wat saak maak vir die ouers (hopelik) is dat die kinders darem n goeie onderrig kry wat van hierdie families dalk glad nie eers kan bekostig nie.
@ nortierd:
Nag Nortie. Jy’t die doel gemis.
@ robzim:
Dis so.
@ MacroBok:
Ek stem saam met jou.
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