adminCape Town – Former Springboks Mark Andrews and Kobus Wiese have offered Bok coach Heyneke Meyer advice in the wake of Victor Matfield’s rumoured return. Speaking to Die Burger’s website Andrews, said he hoped that sentimental reason would not factor in Meyer’s decision whether or not to include Victor Matfield in the Springbok squad.
“If (Victor) can play as he has in the past, it will be good news for South African rugby, but at his age it just gets harder and harder to compete at the same level and the 2015 Rugby World Cup is a long way away.
“It will be very unfortunate if he is picked on the basis of his past achievements whilst promising players are coming through.”
Andrews said there would be high expectations of Matfield, and said he would have the added pressure of knowing his reputation was on the line.
Former Springbok lock Wiese was also sceptical about Matfield’s return and believed it would be short-sighted to pick him again for the Springboks.
“Once a player retires, he should stay retired. In addition, the Springboks don’t have a crisis at lock. It is important that a player like Pieter-Steph du Toit gets as much playing time as possible now.”
The oldest man to wear a Springbok jersey in the modern era, Johan Ackermann, has given Victor Matfield’s comeback his seal of approval.
Speaking to Die Burger’s website, the former Springbok and current Lions coach said “age is relative” and wouldn’t be a stumbling block for the former Springbok and Bulls legend.
Six and a half years ago, on July 7, 2007 against the Wallabies, Ackermann, at 37 years and 34 days played his last game for the Springboks and became the oldest player to ever don the Green and Gold.
“Matfield is fit, athletic and his experience will add great value to the Springboks.
“I believe he is definitely still in Heyneke Meyer’s Springbok plans.
“He offers Heyneke security going into next year’s World Cup and is an ideal player to fall back on,” Ackermann said.
Ackermann said Jake White had called on him in 2007 as a support player, and said he believed Matfield could fill the same role in Meyer’s team.
But Ackermann hoped that Matfield’s apparent return wouldn’t unsettle other contenders in the lock position.
“I think Pieter-Steph du Toit is an unbelievable talent and I was very impressed with the combination formed by Eben Etzebeth and Flip van der Merwe last year.”
Ackermann also cautioned that Meyer would have to be careful to avoid a “John Smit/Bismarck du Plessis dilemma”, where a more experienced player was favoured over a player in superior form.-Supersport.
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