A 104 kg stringbean

Ex Supersport re matfiled

Matfield told reporters that he has lost only three kilograms since he was a player, but it looks like a lot more than that (Yes when you look at matfield stripped of the delusiona lhype tha tsurrounds him you begin t osee what is actually there - hahahahahahahahaha). When he arrived back from Toulon at the start of the Peter de Villiers era he had also lost weight and required conditioning (he had been playing flank at the time - Yes indeed the french soon cottoned on to the fact he wa sno lock. He floppeds a flank as he wa sfar to slwo and came back to the safety of bakkies and the bulss forward pack)), but he looks a lot leaner now than he was then.

One of the ironies of the presentation part of the function was seeing Matfield sitting together with Schalk Burger and former captain Corne Krige being interviewed by SuperSport’s Matthew Pierce.

Burger would be the popular choice of many to be the new skipper now that the Boks are going into a new era, while former skipper Krige looks these days more like an athlete than a rugby player.

Asked if he would himself consider a return to the field, Krige laughed and reminded the audience that he used to have to put dumbbells in his pockets at the weekly weigh-ins when Harry Viljoen was the Bok coach as Viljoen said he could not play if he weighed less than 100 kg.

Krige said he was way too light now to play flank again, and while it was all said in jest, there should have been enough truth in that for Matfield to take note. (I think even Dave may realise 104 kg is too ligth!!!)

The first test against England is now just seven weeks away, so if Matfield is thinking about responding to Meyer’s call, he should be thinking about it in the gym – and not in the spinning class, but in the heavy weights section.

Why is Matfield even considering a return? That should be obvious to anyone who knows his high regard for his former Blue Bulls mentor.

“If it was not Heyneke asking me I would not even be considering it,” he said.

How noble victor but the very best thing you could do for yourself (maintain the myth) and the Boks is to remain retired.

Meyer stop talking rubbish and consult with Rassie as you appear in serious need of some sound advice.

End of Story

DAve could you pelase explain something. You set a benchmark - a reasonable one - of some 90 kg for n international back and rightfully say the exception proves the rule.

However you acclaim a 107 kg one dimensional stringbean as a great lock. What is your benchmark for locks? 

 Minimum for lock is 115kgs, which is what Matfield was

I don't think Matfield ever weighed 115kg's, I think at his heaviest he was 109kg's. I must agree with Beeno, although I don't dispute that Matfield was the Line-out master, and maybe even a good captain, he was not even average in general play. He was very often a liability because he spent so much time camping in the back-line instead of doing his job as a forward. I just can't see what the logic is of having him as Springbok captain, because it is obviously not a long term option. Logic would dictate that  you start blooding the actual replacement for John Smit now and let him get a bit of experience for the years to come, instead of wasting time with Matfield, who will without a doubt, be history in a year or two. 

I really don't get this line of thinking by Meyer, but having said that I still strongly believe he is the best man for the Job and am a 100% behind him. Maybe there is just some dynamic with this call by Meyer that us average joe's just don't get.  

I don't think Matfield ever weighed 115kg's, I think at his heaviest he was 109kg's. I must agree with Beeno, although I don't dispute that Matfield was the Line-out master, and maybe even a good captain, he was not even average in general play. He was very often a liability because he spent so much time camping in the back-line instead of doing his job as a forward. I just can't see what the logic is of having him as Springbok captain, because it is obviously not a long term option. Logic would dictate that  you start blooding the actual replacement for John Smit now and let him get a bit of experience for the years to come, instead of wasting time with Matfield, who will without a doubt, be history in a year or two. 

I really don't get this line of thinking by Meyer, but having said that I still strongly believe he is the best man for the Job and am a 100% behind him. Maybe there is just some dynamic with this call by Meyer that us average joe's just don't get.  

Definitely worth a double post Bluebok but I fear ou Dave will still not accept his error and mend his ways.

Dave, at the moment the facts are that matfield is currently 1 kilo heavier than Jean!! Hahhahahahahaha please just accept that matfield and knows his own weight.

matfield is way below your minimum yet you think him a great lock. You do have a problem for sure!

I suspect Dr Moz will give his own spin on this and insist that "airlight" matfield (his term not mine), being lighter still will be even better in the ineouts and so is a must!!!  Hehehehe

Bluebok I am also totally behind Meyer - trying to push him in the right direction.

Hasbeen Beenbal, let me give you a bit of a shocker. You have two moerse idols, who you worship. Mark Keohane and Rassie Erasmus. Now, I do not think that you have not read this on Keo, because it is from his Business Day column which you never fail to quote and respond to. But, don't worry, I can understand why you chose to ignore this one, which is why I have gone through the trouble of quoting just a part of it on your behalf:

www.keo.co.za/2012/04/19/the-story-is-bekker-not-matfield/

"Meyer has not made the call to turn to Matfield in isolation. Rassie Erasmus has been hugely influential in wanting Matfield back for one season. Erasmus is of the view Matfield retired a year too early and that it was emotionally driven. He is also concerned that Bekker’s career has stalled at a time when it should be nearing an apex."

How now brown cow. You always imply that any body who rates Matfield is dof and is being conned by Matfield.

If I could use your own highly intelligent expression: "Bwahahahahahahaha"

Sorry windpomp I do not have any idols before me - my sin is more likely to be  irreverence  -not as far as God is concerend of course. Also please refer to my post re madness in the air.

I can't but wonder if Rassie's has been misquoted.

Hope he will not get infected by Meyer's current bout of lunacy.

I have a high regard for Rassie, as has so many informed folk. A few  trashed him (you included I believe).  However  nobody is infallible - not even Rassie.

Beeno, trashed Rassie. what I did say was that IMO, he was not the great coach a lot of people has made him out to be, and I can get into lengthy explanations on why I think so (like I have done on many occasions), but I am not going to do that right here and now.

What I have also said about Rassie, and if you are honest you would acknowledge that, was that IMO he is a brilliant analyst of the game and players, as well of an opposing team. In addition he is just as good at developing a gameplan for a specific game, based upon his technical analyis and tactical prowess. What he lacks is the ability to develop a long term startegy and gel a group of players into such a strategy and structure. I also do not know if he is that good at getting a great group cohesion going between the players. I do not want to hammer on the Bulls all the time, but all the proof is there and it has come out again in the media in the last few weeks that there is a great cohesion within the Bulls camp. The same can be said about the Cheetahs and the Lions. It is apparently not the same with in the Sharks camp, and it has definitely not been the same in the Stormers last year. There were just too many indications of touchy feelings within the camp. Tiaan Liebenberg going on You Tube and criticizing management because of the loss of Tim Whitehead, the departure of Sadie and Engelbrecht, the departure of Rassie himself, etc. I have to say that these problems seems to have been either sorted out completely this year or they are less obvious.

I believe that Rassie would never be the national coach and would not have been appointed unless none of  the likes of Meyer, Mallett, Allister, Smal were available. I also cannot see him as a future national coach. The role that has landed himself within SARU fits him like a glove IMO, and I am sure that he will be a great success. He and Meyer will make a great team, IMO.

winpomp your hot air is blowing cold.

Opinmes da windpomp - "What he lacks is the ability to develop a long term startegy and gel a group of players into such a strategy and structure. I also do not know if he is that good at getting a great group cohesion going between the players".

What utter nonsense windpomp!!!!!!!!!!!! Look what the did for the Stormers and younger sides in the years he was there! His strategy as Director of Rugby was superb. He put our rugby on a better path. He worked out how the Stormers needed to play and got the players in to do the job. It all amounted to a vast improvement and has been universally acknowledged as such. Today prominent rugby people speak of him as a world class rugby brain. His input int othe Boks WC campaigh has been widley acknowledged and it was clear to see how the Boks perked up immediatley he got involved an dcoached the team duting the tri nations.

I ahve not see an Sa side dominate Oz like the Boks did in the WC for many a year. Only BL denied them a big victory.

As for libenberg criticising management for the departure of Rassie I have to say Liebenberg was right. From what you are saying  it appears Liebenberg was not criticising Rassie for leaving but  managment's role in his departure. Frankly we have a poor leadership group at WP and hence our problems over a number of years. Rassie succeeded wonderfully dispite all the bulldust and lack of finances. I have concerns how we will go once what he has put in place begins to crumble and fresh ideas are needed.

Also I am sure that Rassie would have liked to keep the players that were lost but we do know the power of the bulle's cheque book etc. The lsubsequent loss of Jaque who got that massive R 22 million offer for 2 oyears work in Japan compounded matters (highest pay  package in history - no wonder he aims to honour its terms!)

He has now been given the task off putting SA rugby on the right lines simply becasue of his ability to startegise!

No twisting of things please windpomp. Keep it honest. Go and look up the word strategy

Rassie would make  a great Bok coach some day. Meyer will learn a great deal from him and yes the partnership should work although Meyer has been having some weird brain spasms just lately. Hope he get over it quickly.

As evidenced by the flood of S15 and CC trophies in the Western Province trophy cabinet during Rassie's tenure in charge...hang on.

poi-e
Member
Posts: 10 RE: A 104 kg stringbean
April 20, 2012, 09:04:22

As evidenced by the flood of S15 and CC trophies in the Western Province trophy cabinet during Rassie's tenure in charge...hang on.

Now, that is everybody gets it wrong. It was Rassie who got them into the S14 final, but it was Allister's fault that they did not win it. Easy peasy.

wrong again windpomp it was bulle ref craig joubert, yes the same oak who shafted the French in the WC final, also shafted us.

As I have previously noted Schalk Burger complained bitterly how craig was coaching the bulle loose forwards and penalising our loosies!!!  When before or since have you heard Burger compalin about the ref? Two super 14/15 second place log finishes on the log is an excllent achievement given from where we were before his arrival!!!

Bulle got handed tha tfina lon a plate. Also remember how a ref error handed them the final agains tthe sharks - who can deny that. Hence a true reflection is a super comp win for each of the bulle, Stormers and sharks.

So get off ya high horse windpomp!

As fo his efforts against the French I am sure windpomp you saw the You Tube clip Moz produced where commentators from down under highlighted all jouberts many errors. No wonder so many French players were incensed and said as much -eg the ref didn't want us to win. As I have said - BL was the pits but craig did not do us proud.

No more cheap shots about Rassie! Given his lesser resources and constraints he worked miracles which are still benefitting us now. His excellence has been recognised widely and he has been rewarded which his current position.

More egg on the visogs of his very few loonie critics.

" Given his lesser resources and constraints he worked miracles which are still benefitting us now"

So you have Rassie to thank for still not winning anything?

poo you need to reasses the measure of success. Would you say a silver at the Olymics for example is a failure.

To me any side finishing in the top 6 of the Super comp has had a good season. When Rassie took over we were 10th on the log I think and had been floundering for some years.  We improved immensely during his tenure poo.

@Beeno. Without looking, can you name the top 6 of the last 6 Super Rugby competitions?

 I understand Beeno, to evaluate Rassie's influence at the Stormers, you must first lower the bar sufficiently to justify a half baked argument...he did instal some pretty lights onto the roof at Newlands I guess.

windpomp what in the world has that got to do with it.

Relative position on the log is important as the Lions will probably find out. Home semi finals are important. sponsors are important as are spectators at games. Winning the comp is  great - if you win fair and square (unlike the bulle) - but it is NOT the whole measure of success.

Winning the SA Conference is an achievement.

Case closed and end of story.