Calling the shots
19 Apr 2010
Victor Matfield is the most complete captain in South Africa.
In the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, we find out how Matfield’s leadership style has evolved over the years and what makes him such an outstanding captain for the Bulls today.
‘I was a real stubborn bugger when I was in my early- to mid-20s. Hard-headed and unplayable at times,’ Matfield says in an honest self-appraisal of his formative years. ‘Even though I was a youngster in the teams I represented I would still want to have an influence on important decisions and I wanted things done my way. On the surface it seemed like I had everything under control, but inside I was unsure of myself. Now I see captains like that and I cringe because they are what I was and it’s ugly.’
Matfield goes on to reveal the things that have helped him to grow as a leader and what he learnt from iconic American football coach Vince Lombardi. Heyneke Meyer and Fourie du Preez also provide unique insight into Matfield’s captaincy style.
Also in the new issue:
– Bulls backline coach Pieter Rossouw on earning his players’ respect, Fourie du Preez’s dispensibility and adapting to the new law interpretations
– The Western Province Rugby Institute was established in 2007 in order to retain the union’s young players and help them to make the transition to senior level. SA Rugby magazine finds out what progress has been made
– Why Wandile Mjekevu has the potential to become a world-class wing
– Bismarck du Plessis on the Sharks’ poor start to the Super 14, his alleged rift with John Smit, and why he wants to stay in Durban
– Conrad Smith on the Hurricanes, next year’s World Cup in New Zealand, his ideal Bok midfield and life after rugby
– Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper may be a bad boy off the field, but he’s making a good impression on it
– The new law interpretations have forced Super 14 teams to change the way they play the game. Rassie Erasmus, Gary Gold, Robbie Kempson and Balie Swart explain why
– Discarded England flyhalf Danny Cipriani hopes to resurrect his career with Melbourne’s new franchise, but it won’t be easy
– Francois Pienaar on the progress of the Varsity Cup, its future plans, Maties’ dominance and how the competition helps transformation
– Former Stormers lock Ross Skeate on his successful stint with Toulon, his enduring hope of a Springbok call-up and why the new law interpretations will never catch on up north
– Jake White explains why the maul is an important part of the game and how to counter-act it
329 Comments
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19 Apr 2010, 15:16 pm
I note, of late, that many of you are developing very cold feet a full year or so ahead of WC 2011.
Is it because the Bulls lost 2 too many and the Sharks far too many and even my Stormers(who may still lose more)?
All of a sudden the word tired, and even fatigue, features again, comes into vogue again but we do not see the French or the Aussies or the Kiwis use that notion when their teams lose.
Way back in about May 2008 before PDV’s first squad was selected but after he had been persuaded and convinced to bring back from France Smit and Matfield(and Percy M.), I boldly predicted, on sound grounds, that if PDV persisted with the 2007WC seniors then the 2011 WC would not be won because that OLD squad would be mentally deficient to do so or to put it differently because of the extreme difficulty to get them mentally effecient.
Since then PDV has to me been blackmailed into retaining these old goats instead of blooding new Boks as starters, like Bekker, Louw, Vermeulen,Potgieter, Hargreaves, even Grant( who incidentally was in his 1st squad), Wian,W.P. Nel, and a host of others who would have the hunger for winning a WC.
Now the dye is cast and he has seemingly to stick with Smit, Matfield and the others because it is much too late now to do what the Wallabies and French have so well done.
Do I want the ‘Boks to not win the 2011WC? You bet I do, even to the extent that he should call back Percy and Os, to prove my prediction correct which I again state is based on the lack of mental adequacy (which you should know cannot be measured and expressed in units that we can understand and thus have to refer to what we call observational studies) which that old dog squad will have.
Never forget no team has won consecutive WCs and only an exceptional team will do so and the 2003(but old) Wallabies could not and they were very good.
19 Apr 2010, 15:23 pm
@bananaboy: Wow very healthy attitude there Bananaboy ! Congrats ..
19 Apr 2010, 15:36 pm
@bananaboy:
Understand that nothing is directed at your person but just at the views expressed and thus the consequences they may evoke.
19 Apr 2010, 15:37 pm
@ET: Yes PdV has been “blackmailed’ by the Boks winning 3N, beating Lions, Bulls winning S14 etc… ha ha .. Thats just not good enough !
I dont agree with your synopsis on the mental ability of said “old dogs” more of a concern are the law changes of ELV’s to speed up the game in 2008/9 and again in 2010 the more “attack minded” amendments to the laws. Thus more running involved suiting younger legs.
That of course could be contradicted by the kicking stats all teams are clocking up these days.. oh well.
19 Apr 2010, 15:50 pm
To the ‘thinkers’, and not those that have gone ‘bananas’, amongst you, can anyone offer an explanation for the appearance, and significance, of the ‘*** tapes’ at that particular time?
19 Apr 2010, 15:53 pm
ET you are wrong. PDV made many additions to the squad, but all but 3 have failed, and only 1 was willingly. He alone has failed to grow the squad, and it’s because of those seniors alone that 09 happened! Bekker and Grant are not test quality, and those deserving were omitted out of stupidity and racism. A poor coach is to blame. Two years to develop, wasted. Now it comes down to 06. I can’t wait to see the back of these three stooges!
19 Apr 2010, 15:55 pm
this out yet?
19 Apr 2010, 16:06 pm
@ET:
ja that was very bizarre, at that stage they might very well have all been forming their power cliques, but the initial non-selection was not a political one as watson’s supporters tried to make out.
19 Apr 2010, 16:07 pm
@Alucard:
You are entitled to your views however incorrect they may be. For the record that 1st squad vs. Wales had a few newer faces but thereafter all of Matfield, Smit, James, Monty were brought back as starters with disastrous effects and results.
But why waste your time? Let us wait for WC2011 and see the consequences.
19 Apr 2010, 16:14 pm
@ET: Apologies ET was just busy. No I understand fully where you are coming from and as I say respect your views.
19 Apr 2010, 16:14 pm
Alternatively, to the S.Africans, the French team, by all accounts, should be by far the most mentally efficiently prepared one. There should be no difficulty in motivating them to take it all by their coaching team, as the will to win, the desire to devour and take it all should be popping out of their eyeballs.
Just watch the French they have the forwards they have the team and the have a winning culture in Kiwiland.
The Wallabies should not be far behind but for them this WC may come a little too soon.
19 Apr 2010, 16:17 pm
@bananaboy:
If only more would have your healthy attitude what a fine country we could still develope into.
The whole is always more important than the sum of its componets.
19 Apr 2010, 16:24 pm
@cab:
Too often we do not read between the lines. My simplistic reading of that in S.A. is that the big money people were just making a statement about who really is in charge of affairs.
He who pays the piper calls the tune and we all should know where the big money is in S.A. rugby. It certainly is not within the blacks.
19 Apr 2010, 16:31 pm
@ET: ET when you’ve lived overseas you realise how beautiful the people in SA are and in particular those who have been previously disadvantaged. Their ability to forgive and make the best of life in lousy circumstances is fantastic.
19 Apr 2010, 16:34 pm
@ET:
Its fine to read between the lines, but one should equally be careful to also not blur the lines.
The situation initially was that Watson was not picked by JW. The ppl who supported Watson decided to read into it that therefore JW must be a racist verkramptes who had an agenda against the watsons because of their prior political stance, this was utter nonsense and was blurring the lines.
The subsequent political shennanigans left alot to be desired, forget the video tapes, what about the offer/strongarm tactics warning white to select watson if he wanted to stay on as coach.
The whole thing was a viper pit.
19 Apr 2010, 16:36 pm
@bananaboy:
I can confirm that as I am in the US. Where are you?
I have always thought of you as being in Durban, hence your support of the Sharks.
It is always a case of almost every day here is a day too long. I am going back to C.T. when may sojourn in science here is done thus I never sold my home.
19 Apr 2010, 16:41 pm
@ET: I’m in Holland and have been here for 16 years but always long for home. Unfortunately my kids were born here (I started late in life with kids) so they are Dutch in schooling etc but Saffers at heart.
I never immigrated, was transferred for a period of 3 years that got extended and before I knew it couldn’t get back home for a variety of reasons.All my immediate family (in-laws included) are still in SA. I only sold my home about 7 years ago as my intention was always to go back.
19 Apr 2010, 16:51 pm
@cab:
I am not as convinced about that matter as you are and read it totally in a different way. The jury on that is still out.
What I do know is that in 2006 Luke was the best S14 #6 and deserved a call-up especially as Burger got that injury.
But what happened? Other, far less desrving, even blacks, were called up including Kabamba Floors. So with those 2 blacks who were both smaller than Watson where does the commitment to size come in? Floors even went on the eoyt that time.
It was clearly unjustified and vindictive behaviour by the decadent, racist, decrepid White and since the I lost what little respect I had for him, but I do note that you have gone to and fro wrt him and that call. The ‘colour balance” was misused by him to make a point with his appointees esp. Hoskins.
Besides in sports size is not as important to the exercise physio., as we all have herad and read of the skilled soft-hands little ones(Aplon for example) and contrariwise the big clumsy oafs(Burger). The laws of physics goes both ways for big and small it just depend on your understanding of those laws and I doubt whether you believe White’s understanding of physics is superior to mine.
19 Apr 2010, 16:53 pm
You fail to take into consider the Boks gameplan in de Villiers first year! He tried to copy NZ and failed, as Jones put it, nobody on the planet was playing like de Villiers was talking about. That coupled with all of de Villiers failed experiments prove emphatically that I’m right. The 07 seniors have been carrying the Boks and struggling to fight the blunders of the worst coaching team in test rugby. Nothing you say ET can stand up to the facts.
19 Apr 2010, 17:01 pm
@bananaboy:
You are in a good healthy(not for now with that ash cloud) situation for your family considering the tough S.African road we all had to travel. Do not accept that because they are born there that that makes it unfortunate.
I have Dutch genes from my mother’s family side and have a desire to spend some time in Holland. I am a great admirer of their football teams such as the national team and Ajax , in particular.
I bet your kids(if one or some is a/are boy/s) must be soccer followers or has dad converted them to rugby with all the rugby that is available on tv?
19 Apr 2010, 17:06 pm
@Alucard:
I suggested you not waste your time. As it is you are too categorical hence I don’t waste my time.
Gameplan? That the players did not even want to put into practice accept that last 3N games where they wiped the Aussies across the floor because eventually they could execute by catching and passing an oval ball and thus score some tries?
19 Apr 2010, 17:07 pm
@ET: Both ET. My son is an avid Ajax fan whereas I am a PSV fan in the Dutch league. However he plays rugby for the British School in the Netherlands (although he is not a student there) and I coach his side. If you ever do decide to visit the Netherlands let me know.
19 Apr 2010, 17:13 pm
Smit didn’t make all that many ‘great’ leadership inspiring decisions on the field in recent memory, now has he?
Back end of CC 2009 3 x losses on trot, France Eoyt 2009, Ireland Eoyt 2009, 3 x warm ups early 2010, 5 x S14 openers 2010.
I fail to see Smits great leadership pedigree, same as I fail to see Matfields, now Bekker or Louw or Watson or Joe Van Niekerk or perhaps Potgieter, now there are some decent type leaders you can nail your colors to.
19 Apr 2010, 17:15 pm
As for Watson he was knifed in the back from the beginning by White and Smit, and the rest of the Klu Klux Klan followed suit.
19 Apr 2010, 17:16 pm
Anycase guys I’m outta here. Got to go and let this old body do some work in the gym. Cheers ET, have a gr8 day.
19 Apr 2010, 17:19 pm
@skopskiet: Dont you believe in Karma Skoppie.
19 Apr 2010, 17:26 pm
Do not agree with this article. Matfield was a disaster as captain against the Wallabies 2 seasons ago. The ref got annoyed with his constant backchatting etc. John Smit much better with “manipulating/softening up” of ref. But, neither should make the Bok team on merit. Can we afford to pick players on reputation alone? don’t think so.
Matfield overrated, only performs well in dominating/winning side. I will take Bekker any day above Matfield. Infact, if we gonna pick players on reputation, then Matfield will play forever, as can not ever see him getting injured. He collapses like a bag of potatoes when touched by any opposition player, including the scrumhalf.
19 Apr 2010, 17:29 pm
@bananaboy:
Then your son is my buddy and you are the ‘enemy’, except when the national team plays. Hey! they should do well very well in WC2010 in a few weeks, especially if they play some of there games in C.T. You do know they(Ajax) have a connection with soccer in C.T.(with AjaxCT’s coach).
With the advent of Cruyff, Neeskens and Johny Rep in the ’70s I have consistently followed Ajax and Holland. They(the brilliant ones) always seem to come in groups of threes. Thereafter it was Van Basten, Gullit and Rikgaard etc.
So do you stay in Amsterdam or is it Rotterdam or another city or town?
I would most definitely look forward to meeting you anywhere in the Netherlands, in fact, my son is passing through Schiphol on Monday early(if flights resume by then) on his way here to the U.S.
19 Apr 2010, 17:31 pm
@bananaboy:
@125
Thanks for the good discourse Bananaboy/Oranje(nou).
19 Apr 2010, 17:33 pm
@skopskiet:
@124
Totally with you on that Skoppie, but you know that a long time ago already.
19 Apr 2010, 17:33 pm
luke watsons non selection in 2006 was criminal…..
despicable
and malicious….
klaar!
19 Apr 2010, 17:35 pm
@skopskiet:
John Smit
Rugby World Cup
2007 Champions
Tri Nations
Winners: 2004, 2009
Runners-up: 2005
British and Irish Lions Series
2009 Series 2–1
Test Series Record (Home)
2004 2–0 Win Ireland
2005 1–0 Win France
2006 2–0 Win Scotland
2007 2–0 Win England
2008 2–0 Win Wales
Those other names you mentioned?
Sweet F-all.
But I’m sure you know best. It helps that most of them are or were Stormers, hey Skoppie?
19 Apr 2010, 17:40 pm
@kaksioek: 132
Teichmann and Pienaatr and Morne du plessis et al all had decent records…..but all had to move on…
smit is playing kak!
19 Apr 2010, 17:42 pm
@grant10:
That is a fair point.
This is not: “I fail to see Smits great leadership pedigree”
19 Apr 2010, 17:48 pm
@kaksioek: it is just very frustrating to see players like Bissy ,guthro coming under threat from a player that is so out of form …..really Smit cannot always survive on this leadership story forever.
No one wants to run the oke down but hell man….he is not even close on the radar!
19 Apr 2010, 17:57 pm
@grant10: Bismark isn’t setting the world on fire either. I’d have Liebenberg at 2 to be honest.
19 Apr 2010, 18:12 pm
Hi All,
Just want to cause a bit of controversy today.
Do you remember how some bloggers (G10 etc etc) commented that Smit was the reason why the Sharks lost their first 5 games.
Can we now say that Matfield is the reason why the Bulls lost on Saturday?
Furthermore, are we now cherishing Smit as Captain cause the Sharks have won the last 4 games?
If Matfield was the best Captain for the Boks, he would have been doing the job the last 4 years.
I do not remember may people criticising Smit during the RWC & The Lions series…Short memories.
19 Apr 2010, 18:16 pm
@kaksioek: 136
Gary Botha,T Liebenberg and Bissy miles ahead oF sMIT CURRENTLY…..NOT ON THE SAME CHART.
gUTHRO IS THE FORM 1 …..bEAST MADE MORE OF AN IMPACT IN 10 MINUTES THAN sMIT IN THE ENTIRE GAME VS LIONS.
sMIT IS NO 3!
i DONT KNOW WHERE THAT LEAVES SMIT….BUT HE DOESENT MAKE MY wc 30….NEVER MIND MATCH 22.
sorry caps
19 Apr 2010, 18:17 pm
@BULLET: 137
Smit at 3 was partly to blame.
19 Apr 2010, 18:20 pm
skoppie,ufo,pissant
waiting at vic times for you okes
19 Apr 2010, 19:35 pm
@skopskiet:
Watson was a great captain for the Stormers, his unselfish decision to put the Stormers and the success of them above that of his own by moving overseas speaks of great leadership qualities.
19 Apr 2010, 19:41 pm
It seems like most of you guys have never played Rugby, I cant recall that I have ever told my Captain that he was a K@K Captain because I knocked the ball. Or passed the interception try or missed the winning kick. O yes now I remember all 14 team members left the field and said hey Cappie if you cant win these guys on your own you are K@K.
Smith is a great Cappie the best we had in a long time, he helped us forget that we had K@k ones like krige and Joost.
19 Apr 2010, 19:47 pm
On performance these last few games neither Vic nor Smith should be picked, however test rugby is not S14 and will need that experience. End of year tour would be great to leave these two to rest for WC even if it will be to provide much needed experience and assistance for the new guys
19 Apr 2010, 20:44 pm
Aaagh, hello Grant 10,
Is Matfield at 5 partly to blame for the Bulls loss on the weekend?
Agree, Smit is not the answer at 3, however I do recall bloggers stating that Smit must go. Not partly go!
19 Apr 2010, 20:52 pm
@BULLET: well if i was coach Smit is a goner!
19 Apr 2010, 20:54 pm
I’ve seen that adapt or die title a before, cant these guys think of something new?
19 Apr 2010, 20:56 pm
@ET:
116, well that is your opinion, i agree kabamba was less deserving and even smaller, but the political pressure applied at the coach was to pick black players, not honorary-black players.
There were many that agreed with you that Watson should have got the call up on the back of the Burger injury, including Nick Mallett, but JW liked size. he may have been wrong, but it was not correct imo for everyone to implicate JW as somehow having some sort of racial agenda in that respect. People called for Botha and Britz over Smit and he stuck to his guns. Ppl called for many things and he stuck to his guns. He may have been incorrect from a rugby strategist perspective not to pick Watson, but those folk who implied he had some agenda is not correct or fair. Instead what happened was when Watson was not selected, the whole incident was politicised.
You are welcome to your own opinion, but I do not share it and I also dont like players and politicos dictating selections.
19 Apr 2010, 20:59 pm
@grant10:
how can someone’s non-selection be criminal?
the only thing criminal is you lecturing on TR and of course that speedo.
19 Apr 2010, 21:06 pm
@cab: 148
Maybe….but the biggest crime is fat boy making the bok team based on his leadership skills!
Daylight robbery i tell you…..bloody useless he is! Disgarceful performance against the lions…..he just walked from set piece to set piece….hit hardly a ruck….no man…that oke needs a break….i reckon for at least the next 40 years!
19 Apr 2010, 21:06 pm
@cab: Mallet, JW along with all teh previous springbok coaches were white supremacist… prove to me that they were not… There was nothing rational about anything that they done.. You say bigger players… I say whiter players.. Stop trying to find legitimacy in the history of springbok rugby.. The bullshitting needs to stop.. I will expose the ugly truth.. The non selection on the bases of race is criminal and black players with their agents need to take S14 coaches to the Equality court.
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