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.
57 @ nortierd:
You won’t get an arguement from me on that one.
I say that neither the Lions or Cheetahs deserve to be in the competition.
SA have consistently only ever had 3 franchises in contention for Super Rugby honours in the last 10-15 years.
The “6th franchise” arguement is nothing more than a sporting body bending over to please their political puppet masters.
The net result will be a further dilution of the 4th and 5th franchises IMO.
Scrumdown wrote:
@60
One would think, but won’t easily happen here.
Telling me to like the Sharks or telling their supporters to like the Stormers is like telling Skop that a T-bone steak is better than a plate of sunshine.
NZINCHINA wrote:
Amateur bodies and individual with an “old by, amateur mindset” running professional sports business’ I’m afraid.
There may be 2 exceptions in SA that I can point to, the Bulls, and in the last 12 month the Sharks, the rest, well results speak for themselves.
Scrumdown wrote:
Should read “old boy, amateur mindset”.
@ nortierd:
I think AB is probably the best batsman in the world today – with that I don’t think he is a good captain. Even at school, Faf was the captain. I always believed it was a two horse race between Faf and Hashim – Hashim getting the nod as he is guaranteed a spot.
Gumboots wrote:
Good choice, pity the coach remains.
Should have brought in Jennings.
@ Scrumdown:
Yes the Bulls outfit certainly got it together, the lure of big money up north stopped them in their tracks though otherwise they might well have picked up a few more titles.
Scrumdown wrote:
Very true
Ask us Stormers, we cringe when we talk about our administration
@ nortierd:
Yeah Jennings doesn’t take an sh1t – he would be a great coach… A pity is isn’t really…
nortierd wrote:
I’ve never spoke shyte in all my life!!!!!!!!
Ask GBS and my ex wife if you don’t believe me.
More seriously though, some organisations within the SA Rugby “family” get quite upset when one points out their failings and lack of professionalism.
@71
Lol
Yes, and then they even want to instigate legal proceedings when the face book petitions start
😉
Gumboots wrote:
Scrumdown wrote:
No surprises there.
He may even lead the Bokke at the RWC next year.
@ Nama:
We were just discussing the alternatives. JDV and Vic are the strongest leaders in the team, and there are no obvious youngsters to take over.
I don’t think this is a good thing, we are in a position that is similar to last WC where the Captain was an issue.
Consider the following situation:
Andries Bekker returns from Japan and has a blinder of a season for the Stormers, and more critically, is fit come WC selection time.
Pieter Stef Du Toit and Eben Etsebeth have great seasons as expected, as does Flip. All are fit for the WC. Do you play Victor?
Damien DeAllende continues to establish himself as one of the premier inside centres in the country. Paul Jordaan, JDJ, Jan Serfontein and JJ also have great years. Do you pick Jean?
Maybe one or both are injured.
Who then?
Strauss? Bissie?
I don’t see it to be honest
76 @ Stormersboy:
You are overthinking it… one can only work within your CURRENT circumstances!
So, if all or some of these players have blinders of seasons next year, what a bonus, great additions to depth in critical positions.
The de facto position is… who is in the starting lineup now, who will play in the 4 Tests this June… a suitable captain has to be picked from those players.
Why complicate it with conjecture and speculation?
@ grootblousmile:Over-thinking is what I do unfortunately. I just think we need to be looking strategically at the newer players coming through with the eye on grooming one or more future leaders.
Still, next year will bring it’s own circumstances as you say.
You guys have it all wrong, when Spies is fit next year , he will captain the boks to the world cup… what a heroic leader.
79 @ MacroBok:
O fokkie toggie, net nie dit nie!
Quick question to the boffins out there: How many debutants has HM brought through in his 2 years so far? As much as we maligned PDV, he did bring through a few youngsters, even if it was brought on by circumstances.
@ Lion4ever:
24 new springboks
81 @ Lion4ever:
Heyneke Meyer has brought more through, I think it is 24 so far, halfway through his 4 years… or maybe first 4 years
Much can be said aboutdeeloping youngsters, but it is almost like you are in a lose lose situation, JJE, Kolisi and Goosen did well last year, do you just throw them out now and look for the new flavour of the month?
@ MacroBok:
831 Marcell Coetzee 9 June 2012 England 15 5 1 0 0 0
832 Juandré Kruger 9 June 2012 England 17 0 0 0 0 0
833 Eben Etzebeth 9 June 2012 England 23 0 0 0 0 0
834 Jacques Potgieter 23 June 2012 England 3 0 0 0 0 0
835 Patric Cilliers 18 August 2012 Argentina 6 0 0 0 0 0
836 JJ Engelbrecht 18 August 2012 Argentina 12 20 4 0 0 0
837 Craig Burden 0 0 0 0 0 0
838 Jano Vermaak 8 June 2013 Italy 3 0 0 0 0 0
839 Johan Goosen 8 September 2012 Australia 4 8 0 1 2 0
840 Duane Vermeulen 8 September 2012 Australia 16 5 1 0 0 0
841 Frans Malherbe 9 November 2013 Wales 2 0 0 0 0 0
842 Jaco Taute 29 September 2012 Australia 4 0 0 0 0 0
843 Arno Botha 8 June 2013 Italy 2 0 0 0 0 0
844 Lionel Mapoe 0 0 0 0 0 0
845 Raymond Rhule 0 0 0 0 0 0
846 Franco van der Merwe 0 0 0 0 0 0
847 JC Janse van Rensburg 0 0 0 0 0 0
848 Willie le Roux 8 June 2013 Italy 12 20 4 0 0 0
849 Jan Serfontein 8 June 2013 Italy 9 5 1 0 0 0
850 Trevor Nyakane 8 June 2013 Italy 3 5 1 0 0 0
851 Siya Kolisi 15 June 2013 Scotland 10 0 0 0 0 0
852 Piet van Zyl 15 June 2013 Scotland 2 0 0 0 0 0
853 Lourens Adriaanse 23 November 2013 France 1 0 0 0 0 0
854 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Pdv brought in 35 springboks (including sending an embarrassingly weakened team like his predecessor to Australasia)
792 Wian du Preez 21 November 2009 Italy 1 0 0 0 0 0
793 Barend Pieterse 0 0 0 0 0 0
794 Tiaan Liebenberg 1 December 2007 Barbarians 5 0 0 0 0 0
795 Andries Bekker 7 June 2008 Wales 29 5 1 0 0 0
796 Brian Mujati 7 June 2008 Wales 12 0 0 0 0 0
797 Tendai Mtawarira 14 June 2008 Wales 53 10 2 0 0 0
798 Odwa Ndungane 21 June 2008 Italy 9 10 2 0 0 0
799 Schalk Brits 21 June 2008 Italy 5 0 0 0 0 0
800 Adriaan Strauss
801 Heinrich Brüssow 22 November 2008 England 20 5 1 0 0 0
802 Earl Rose 0 0 0 0 0 0
803 Morné Steyn 20 June 2009 Britain 54 636 8 88 132 8
804 Zane Kirchner 4 July 2009 Britain 28 25 5 0 0 0
805 Heini Adams 0 0 0 0 0 0
806 Juan de Jongh 5 June 2010 Wales 14 20 4 0 0 0
807 Francois Hougaard 21 November 2009 Italy 27 25 5 0 0 0
808 Riaan Viljoen 0 0 0 0 0 0
809 Alistair Hargreaves 5 June 2010 Wales 4 0 0 0 0 0
810 Ashley Johnson 23 July 2011 Australia 3 0 0 0 0 0
811 Bandise Maku 19 June 2010 Italy 1 0 0 0 0 0
812 Dewald Potgieter 28 November 2009 Ireland 6 5 1 0 0 0
813 Davon Raubenheimer 0 0 0 0 0 0
814 Jean Deysel 21 November 2009 Italy 4 0 0 0 0 0
815 Francois Louw 5 June 2010 Wales 28 25 5 0 0 0
816 Gio Aplon 5 June 2010 Wales 17 25 5 0 0 0
817 Bjorn Basson 5 June 2010 Wales 10 15 3 0 0 0
818 Flip van der Merwe 12 June 2010 France 34 5 1 0 0 0
819 Elton Jantjies 29 September 2012 Australia 2 6 0 0 2 0
820 Pat Lambie 6 November 2010 Ireland 32 68 1 11 15 0
821 Lwazi Mvovo 20 November 2010 Scotland 7 5 1 0 0 0
822 Willem Alberts 13 November 2010 Wales 30 35 7 0 0 0
823 Keegan Daniel 6 November 2010 Ireland 5 0 0 0 0 0
824 Coenie Oosthuizen 9 June 2012 England 14 10 2 0 0 0
825 Deon Stegmann 6 November 2010 Ireland 6 0 0 0 0 0
826 Charl McLeod 30 July 2011 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0 0
827 Andries Strauss 0 0 0 0 0 0
828 Werner Kruger 23 July 2011 Australia 4 0 0 0 0 0
829 Dean Greyling 23 July 2011 Australia 3 0 0 0 0 0
830 Gerhard Mostert
All of them obviously did not get test caps, but they do constitute as “developing young players”
@ MacroBok:
No Elton Jantjies in there? I recall him being used in a couple of tests around 2012 as a sub?
So we do have a pool of players who have started their careers with HM. Not all of them will be regulars, but its good to know that he has brought a fair amount of new talent through. Which means that experience is always being built up.
@ Lion4ever:
he is 819, He is under Pdv, though he made his test debut under meyer
Elton actually wore the no 10 springbok Jersey before Pat Lambie did.
Lambie played earlier but off the bench or in another jersey.
A bit of useless info for you there….
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