Matfield: A nation divided
Opinion is divided over whether one-time lord of the locks Victor Matfield should come out of retirement and lead South Africa in a three-Test home series against England this June.
World Cup-winning former Springbok coach Jake White says the move “would make sense”, while Johannesburg-based former British and Irish Lions scrumhalf John Robbie disagrees.
Retired Springbok legends Frik du Preez, Naas Botha and Wynand Claassen believe it may be too late for 34-year-old Matfield to get match-fit ahead of Tests in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth on consecutive Saturdays.
Award-winning writer Dan Retief also expressed concerns after new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer admitted he had asked 110-cap Matfield to consider wearing the green and gold again.
Meyer and Matfield were coach and captain respectively of the Bulls that was a dominant force in South Africa and the southern hemisphere for many seasons.
“If it were not Heyneke asking me I would not even consider it,” Matfield, who now divides his time between consultancy work with the Pretoria-based Bulls and analysing matches for a pay-TV station, told this website.
Hooker and captain John Smit and vice-captain Matfield retired after South Africa made a last-eight exit from the 2011 World Cup and flanks Schalk Burger and Juan Smith were considered the main captaincy candidates.
But Stormers skipper Burger has not played since being injured two months ago on the opening weekend of the Super Rugby season and is unlikely to be back until July.
The injury-prone Cheetahs captain Smith was last in action more than a year ago.
The retirement of Matfield and moves abroad by fellow Bulls Bakkies Botha to France and Danie Rossouw to Japan has left South Africa needing new locks and first choice Andries Bekker of the Stormers has a back injury.
Meyer believes recalling Matfield could give him experience and leadership while stressing he will probably name his captain for the England series only on the Monday before the June 9 first Test.
Brumbies coach White – who coached the Boks to World Cup glory in 2007 – told reporters, after his Canberra-based Super Rugby side suffered a narrow defeat by the Bulls last weekend at Loftus Versfeld, that “it would make sense” for Meyer to select Matfield.
“It worked wonders when I brought back Os du Randt and Percy Montgomery in 2004 and having Victor around for a bit of stability is probably the right decision for Heyneke.”
Robbie is a radio talk show host known for hard-hitting views and he believes Matfield should be involved with the two-time world champions as a coach rather than as a player.
“If Victor is selected the message sent to the world is that we do not have replacements for him and this is nonsense,” he wrote in his weekly column for the Johannesburg-based Star newspaper, adding: “As we have young locks coming out of the woodwork.
“There is no way Victor will be around in three years’ time. We have a chance to make a new beginning with a new team on and off the field. Almost every province has big, strong, talented locks itching for a chance to move up.”
Former lock Du Preez told the Sunday Times: “If it is the right thing only he [Matfield] can decide, but I believe he should already have started to play some rugby. Being fit and rugby-fit are different things.”
Botha agreed: “If he is going to play again he better make it quick. He has to start playing again. I’m not sure it is a risk worth taking for Heyneke Meyer at the outset of his tenure as Springbok coach.”
Retief said a Matfield recall would be seen as a slap in the face for Bekker and other outstanding young locks such as Flip van der Merwe and Juandre Kruger (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) and Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions).
AFP
