Victor Matfield & Bakkies Botha
Victor Matfield will captain the Springboks in the Castle Lager Incoming Series this month in the absence of the injured Jean de Villiers – and he will lead them out for the first time since his return to rugby in Saturday’s match against a star-studded World XV, sponsored by Samsung, at Newlands (kick off 17:00 SA Time).
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer made the announcement in Cape Town on Tuesday. Matfield, who has played 110 Tests for South Africa, last captained the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.
“Victor’s appointment as interim captain is something I thought long and hard about and it wasn’t an easy decision to make,” said Meyer.
“The three candidates we considered, Victor, Bismarck du Plessis and Fourie du Preez, were all very strong options.”
“We’re in a fortunate situation that we have a strong leadership group in the current squad, which includes Victor, Bismarck, Fourie, Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw.”
“It’s only a short-term appointment as Jean will take over as captain again once he’s recovered from his injury. Victor was a logical option – he knows the pressure associated with being Springbok captain as he’s been there before and he has vast captaincy experience at all levels of the game.”
“I also firmly believe Bismarck has improved a lot in this role with the Cell C Sharks and I know he can still lead the Springboks. He’s 100% supportive of Victor and he will remain one of our vice-captains for the season.”
“Victor is someone who has the respect of all the players in our squad, as well as world-wide in rugby. He’s achieved a lot and has always put the team’s interests first, while most of the players in our squad have already played under him.”
Matfield, who has captained the Springboks in 17 Tests earlier in career, said he is very grateful for the trust shown in him by the national coach.
“I’m here to serve the team and would like to make a positive contribution,” said Matfield.
“When I decided to return to playing rugby, my aim was to be good enough to make the Springbok team. I never dreamt of leading the team again and it’s a massive honour.”
“The coach has built a strong core of leaders and I’m fortunate to have guys such as Bismarck, Fourie, Bryan, Duane, Schalk, Flip and Francois alongside me. And we’ll have Jean and Adriaan Strauss back with the team soon, which will add to the depth of leadership.”
Matfield will captain the Springboks in their four matches in June. The vice-captains will be Bismarck du Plessis and Fourie du Preez.
29 @ superBul:
I hope so too, but it’s speculation at best at the moment for Pollard.
Will he make the Bokke ahead of Johan Goosen or ahead of Marnitz Boshoff at THIS TIME, no he won’t… yet.
Sorry, but I don’t agree that because a guy is a senior p,Ayer and very good, he will be just as good a captain.
On the field he can do his calls and give input, but the international captaincy goes much further than tossing a coin and choosing which side you want to play from.
Media engagements, referee engagements etc takes up the most time. Look where we were in they eyes of the rugby world and media after Strauli, laughing stock, branded thugs after Twickenam 2002 and there I take my hat off to Jake and his decision to appoint Smit.
Smit brought the rest of the world to respect us again, by his manner, demeanor and way he conducted himself.
Even though I am Afrikaans, I will be the first to admit that we can’t select a guy who can’t speak fluent English in interviews, it’s a huge part of the job.
The respect of your peers is non negotiable, but the bigger picture is that we need a diplomat of note to be the captain, not necessarily the best player.
@27
What ballas?
Fark, but you Aussies can over exaggerate.
You call what he has Ballas?
😉
29 @ superBul:
I personally prefer a tight forward.
Besides having a better idea of what’s going on in the engine room, where the game’s either won or lost, they also tend to be better looking and more intelligent than the backs.
32 @ nortierd:
Jake developed JS from a young age, and knew he would be his captain.
As I asked GBS earlier, who is HM / SARU developing NOW for post 2015 RWC and on to 2019?
@ nortierd:
It worked though BK was taken out of the game and the Bokke won the match, Norty why when something like this comes up in Bokke rugby it’s always messy, if Read couldn’t continue the next captain would be sorted well in advance of Ritchie retiring and everybody would know well in advance.
One player who IMO may go on to become a good National Captain is Oupa Mohoje .
I thought he handled himself very well in the Varsity Cup, and has the right attitude, BUT he needs mentoring.
What youngsters do we have coming through with stong leadership credentials?
Arno Botha?
37 @ Scrumdown:
Good prospect and good captaincy prospect, but he is nowhere near a Springbok starter yet.
In fact, he needs to make the Cheetahs starting 15 on a regular basis first.
@ nortierd:
What you said is PC, but do you think that a Frenchman would bother about English, a Italian or a Argentinian? Look if the World could survive PdeV they can survive a Bakkies or whatever we dish up.
JdeV was not that great last year, he was not brave enough and to big a gentleman in the All Black Tests. A Captain must first worry about his team WINNING even if it is at all cost. Then he can go talk the talk.
38 @ Stormersboy:
Arno’s not a bad option… but is he injury prone like Goosen?
He’s been out injured for almost a full year now already!
I think he needs to become Bulls cappie first too, build up a captaincy pedigree there… then only be considered as a possible Bok option.
@ nortierd@32:
The respect is earned by the whole team and management, not just the captain. This is part of being a Springbok. a Part of the Springbok code. It wasn’t just Smit that brought the respect back, it was the whole team and management.
39 @ grootblousmile:
So I ask once again, “What’s being done by either HM or SARU to start developing a potential leader for the next 8 or so years?”
Of course it’s a rhetorical question, because we probably know the answer with a good degree of certainty.
Read comment #36 to see one MASSIVE difference between SARU and the NZRU.
Thanks for bringing us back to the lighter side.
@ Scrumdown:
Sam Cane’s name is already being mentioned in rugby circles back home and if Read was to take over he’s at least 3-5 years away from getting the job, good planning.
@ grootblousmile:
Sure, I’m just racking my brain to think of some youngsters who are likely to play Springbok but who also have strong leadership qualities.
The victorious junior Bokke was captained by William Small-Smith weren’t they? I haven’t seen enough of him to form an opinion as to whether he is a future Bok candidate. he certainly hasn’t kicked on the way that Serfontein has….
45 @ NZINCHINA:
I think that one big difference between NZ and the REST OF THE RUGBY WORLD, is that they’re VERY stable at the top of all of their franchises as well as the National body, and that the NZRU make informed and well thought out decisions, with a clear plan for the future.
In SA, we know this is not necessarily the case, despite the fact that we’ve had the same person heading SARU for some time. (Some will say far too long.)
In fact, being successful as a National coach in SA (in almost any sport) is almost a guarantee that you’ll be looking for a new job as soon as your contract expires.
Congrats Hashim Amla on being named Protea Test Cricket Captain. A really good choice…
43 @ Scrumdown:
Is it really Heyneke Meyer’s job to develop a potential leader?
Shoud it not rather be that he picks who are available and developed to an extent already… and work with them from there?
Don’t we then have to apportion blame to the Franchises too, for failing to provide that future leader to Heyneke Meyer?
No man, a Springbok coach needs to pick his best 30 or so players in the country, in their respective positions…. and work with the material he is given… no passengers!
The next leader will come through naturally, it is a process of natural selection… it cannot just be forced and generated at will.
Forcing it is playing favouratism, arteficial engineering and just plain wrong.
Two years ago, the possible captaincy options at the Bokke were few and far between, very limited, and now this year Heyneke’s already been in a position to choose between 7 or 8 possible candidates, there is nothing wrong with the succession plan and the possibles and possibilities.
@40&42
True, but captaincy of the Bokke transcends just rugby.
A Bok captain must sidestep political mine fields as well as just trying to concentrate on rugby matters, similar to the Bok coach.
I have also thought at times last year that Jean is just to nice a guy at times. When we got short changed on the field I would have preferred someone who told the ref he is a d..s and told him where to get off, guess we supporters sometimes want guys on the field to say what we are shouting at the TV 😀
Good thing I’m not Bok captain, lol.
Leon, you are right, the captain is an extension of the team, and at times vice versa, but he is the one fronting the media, and we know they can be unrelenting and unforgiving, but also they can be powerful allies to the team if he has them in his pocket.
@NZINCHINA 36
Because everything you do in your rugby is geared solely to the benefit and betterment of the All Blacks.
By us we have to deal with provincialism and political interference to hidden agendas and you name it.
49 @ grootblousmile:
I don’t agree with you.
The National coach is either part of the whole, or he’s not.
He can’t expect to have franchises dance to his tune when he feels like it, but not have input into what’s going on at the same franchises at other times.
As to whether he actually does pick the “best 30 or so players” is of course a matter of conjecture.
I put it to you that HM picks the “best 30 or so players” that he’s comfortable with, or who he’s told to include.
As you state above Mohoje isn’t good enough to be a Springbok YET. Hence HM has not picked the best 30 players available. So why is he there?
The same can be argued with a number of his selections in the current squad.
how can people say HM is not bringing in new next gen players?
yes. there are a bunch of oldies. but which young ster has performed consistntly over the last three years and been ignored?
how many young players have been brought in?
@49 GBS
It could have been perfect for HM if SARU had the foresight to appoint him Bok coach up to 2019.
We all know he is very good at building a team of youngsters over an extended period, and he has an eye for unearthing talent when they are young.
If he had 8 years and his target was WC 2019 perhaps his current team of choice would have looked much different with considerably more youngsters in it?
But the pressure to win every test was on his shoulders from game 1, similar to every Bok coach before him and probably every Bok coach to follow him
@ Scrumdown:
Rugby is a business these days and the NZRFU is run like one, the on field results speak for themselves as do the fantastic commerical achievements through large sponsorhip deals with Adidas AIG etc. SA wanting a sixth franchise is just another example of a bad decision coming out of SARFU HQ, SA will probably have one team in the top 6 this season yet they still want more teams madness.
At least now he when he screws up another line out he can blame ” lost in translation”
Deon Fourie has signed a two-year deal with Lyon, who recently returned to the Top 14.
The hooker/flank will join the French club at the end of this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
‘I am excited to join Lyon, who have big ambitions in the Top 14 next season. I’m sure this is only the beginning of a long and successful collaboration,’ Fourie said via a press statement on Lyon’s official website.
NZINCHINA wrote:
Again, not a rugby decision.
54 @ nortierd:
BINGO!!!
The fault does not necessarily lie with HM, but the shyte he’s handed by SARU and the Prats that were give a vote of confidence by the general population of SA on 7th May 2014.
@Gummi
Good choice, so he is ready for it now?
Remember a while ago he said he wasn’t ready, glad he changed his mind. Excellent player and well respected by all
@ nortierd
isn’t it time you sorted out the provincialism then, that old line tells me the people running SA rugby are both selfish and clueless
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