24 Mar 2014, 16:45#2
Or........ the rest can just prove that they are better than him and keep him out...............
24 Mar 2014, 17:02#3
Cera, do you really believe it is as simple as that? Do you really think his reputation does not influence people? Him and John Smit were practically player, coach and selector of the PDivvy springbok era. P DeVilliers was just a passenger.
My point is simple, if he does manage to worm his way into the Bok setup, at who's expense will it be? Du Toit? Van Der Merwe? Etzebeth? Bekker? There are a couple more that my end of work day brain can't think of, but that is the point I am trying to make. These guys have been playing their hearts out, PUTTING THEIR BODIES AT RISK, only to be leapfrogged at the glory end of the journey.
Not fair.
24 Mar 2014, 17:39#4
Whose fault was it that Matfield and Smit were "player, coach and selector"? Theirs or the fact that they had BS for a coaching team. Look at what happened to that coaching team. Gary Gold went from pillar to post in the UK. Twakkies is trying to coach a varsity team and Muir went who knows where?
I ask once again, who is the onus on? Matfield to prove that he is good enough, if not better, or the likes of Du Toit, Van der Merwe et al to "unseat" him? What comes first? The Bokke winning or emotion about others "putting their bodies" on the line? How many years have Matfield put his body on the line? What else does he have to prove, other than that he is still the best. Note that I have said that he has to prove that he is still the best. I have not said that he definitely is the best. Why should he be denied the opportunity to help the Boks get to the top and stay there, only because he is "too old".
We have a tendency to be too emotional about this shit. I don't give a crap about who has been leapfrogged and who has been dropped, etc, etc. As long as it is done for one purpose only and that is that it has to be done for the benefit of the team. Period. I do not care if they bring back flippin Naas Botha in a wheelchair, as long as flippin Naas Botha in a wheelchair is better than anything else we have to offer.
sharkbok
Captain23,295 posts
sharkbokCaptain23,295 posts
24 Mar 2014, 17:45#5
Agreed if Meyer had more options at 5, he would not be interested in re-calling a past his best Matfield. Even past his best, he is a better lineout and kick off forward than anyone in the world.
The Bulls lineout has gone from average to the best in SuperXV within a few weeks.
DBDbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DBDbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
24 Mar 2014, 18:10#6
Bekker did basically the same by going to play Micky Mouse Rugby in Japan. I expect him to be back next year. Lets see what happens before slagging Victor. It seems he still got something to offer. No one said he must start for the Boks.
BEBeeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BEBeeno1Captain40,032 posts
24 Mar 2014, 19:17#7
He should not be starting for a Vodacom cup team he is not even club level. The guys only merit is he can catch a ball. He is the supreme con man. Away with the show pony.There is absolutely nothing wrong with the bulls lineout if they have Flip and Willemse at lock. The bulle will need a tight five to win this year not a tight 4.I have no issue with age etc. If he was the best play him. It's merit selection we want.
Matfield is a serial loafer doing zip as a tight forard besides the lineout. and taking balls re the kick off. Anybody thinking that fullfills the job description of a lock is as daft as a hatter.I challenge anyone to watch what matfield actually does in a game and how he avoids the physical like the plague. Just watch him. Now he is being credited with the bulls turnaround. Bwahahahahahahahhahaha h ow daft can one get
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
24 Mar 2014, 23:48#8
Look it's bloody obvious, the Bools are a better team since Matfield returned. He was probably the most influential player on the park in the Bools/Sharks clash. If the youngsters are better they should be able to prove their case. Take Lood as one case though, he spilled the ball three times on the goal line....yes I know he is a 4, but in my view apart from the CC final when the. sharks pack dominated, Steph hasn't made his case either.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
25 Mar 2014, 00:07#9
Mozart
When will you wake up to facts and not live in dream land? You preached elsewhere that Frncois Steyn took control of the Sharks in the last 15 minutes - something you dreamed up to cover Steyn's abysmal performance other than kicking at goal.
Matfield who only called the line outs and otherwise did next to nothing on the field of play - "He was probably the most influential player on the park in the Bools/Sharks clash." He did squat - so the new excuse is the quoted one.
A player taking the lead should set an example and lead the players through their own performance - neither Steyn nor Matfield did that.
Another quote:-
"Look it's bloody obvious, the Bools are a better team since Matfield returned." That has already been proven as Mozart crap. The difference was made by Potgieter at flyhalf - not by Matfield. In any event you are talking crap = Matfoeld had ample playing time from the bench and made no impact in those two games.
25 Mar 2014, 00:46#10
"Mayfield who only called the line outs and otherwise did next to nothing n the field of play - "He
was probably the most influential player on the park in the
Bools/Sharks clash." He did squat - so the new excuse is the quoted
one."
Hey ou Pisbal. Why don't you pull out the stats to support your argument, like you always do? Or don't the stats support your crap this time around?
AJArthur John
Pro1,748 posts
AJArthur JohnPro1,748 posts
25 Mar 2014, 17:09#11
On the issue of players overstaying their playing careers I would like to make the following point.
John Smit played on after he was past his best and thankfully he did because he brought the following to the team.
1. Leadership2. Experience3. Inspired players to lay it on the line4. Loyal to the team, players and country5. Professional approach to the game6. Dedication7. Pure class
Need I go on?
What does Matfield have left to offer the Springboks other than a excellent coach at this stage.SA rugby have numerous young locks who show class and play their hearts out each week, They should not be overlooked to facilitate a player who is way past his best.If they are not rewarded they will leave and chase the money as players must do.
25 Mar 2014, 19:14#12
The irony.................
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
26 Mar 2014, 00:41#13
Matfield has done NOTHING of note since his return.......if anything, his lack of grunt has contributed to the Bulls packs suffering at scrum time.
The guy has been a passenger......the younger locks are far, far better.
You used to add plenty of value when he had a spring in his step.....he was never a grunt player but added athleticism.......that has long deserted him......hardly surprising given his age......he plays like an old man now......a passenger of note
I can see Meyer selecting Matfield for the Boks and oh boy what a smack the physical AB's will give us.
The Bulls revival has stuff all to do with Matfield and everything to do with Potgieter at 10
26 Mar 2014, 02:00#14
Another one who hasn't read what Ludeke himself has said. Go read it and forget about your own stuffed-up little fables.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
26 Mar 2014, 02:03#15
Who the fuck is Ludeke in the grand scheme of things.......another average conservative coach you stupid prick
BEBeeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BEBeeno1Captain40,032 posts
26 Mar 2014, 09:46#17
yes windpomp, apparently Ludeke gave credit to victor for thinking up a few moves was it. So he could make it as a coach possibly.That doesnt make him a good player. He is paper thin!
BEBeeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BEBeeno1Captain40,032 posts
26 Mar 2014, 09:47#18
yes windpomp, apparently Ludeke gave credit to victor for thinking up a few moves was it. So he could make it as a coach possibly.That doesnt make him a good player. He is paper thin!
BEBeeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BEBeeno1Captain40,032 posts
26 Mar 2014, 11:10#20
Wind pomp he is un der pinned by a huge check book - where do the bulle get all this money one has to ask. I recall rassie saying he had asignificantly smaller budget than the bulle. Yet we have the biggest crowd attendance and are a wealthyu province. Shows the rot at the top.
Ludeke has had the player personnnel and a clear plan. We have simply thrown away player personnel and had a hopelessly confused plan. Watertight defense and zip else. Now even what was in place is crumbling as Rassie heritage fades.
Good luck to the bulle -I tipped them to be a threat thsi year. Meanwhile the questiuon is wheter the Sharls season is going to go peared shaped due to injuries. The Sharks have good depth so its too early to say. Injuries must stop though as they cany afford many more.To be fair to Coetzee injuries have bedevilled his attempts as well. But each year we have the same problem. In the WP grounds we have the Sports Science Institute with possibly the leading Sports science guy in the world- Prof Tim Noakes. Use him Alistair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a resource to have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
