Comments on: Commanding respect

By: Storm outta hell(Storm outta hell)

Storm outta hell(Storm outta hell) — Sat, 22 May 2010 11:21:18 +0000

@brains_trust(brains_trust)-33: I hope Schalk reads it

By: brains_trust(brains_trust)

brains_trust(brains_trust) — Sat, 22 May 2010 11:05:53 +0000

Ryan – good article, good read …

By: goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)

goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2) — Sat, 22 May 2010 06:39:53 +0000

Well done Victor. After watching and reading about you for some time now this all appears to be in order.

Good to see a leader of your caliber and even greater to hear a leader discuss what they were, shows a sense of humility which is vital.

By: mozart(mozart)

mozart(mozart) — Sat, 22 May 2010 04:39:25 +0000

Victor Matfield followed a period with chaps like Jannes Labuschagne and Selbourne Boome as our locks. From mediocrity to the best number 5 lock since WW2. No wonder our fortunes took a turn for the better.

By: Rugby-1(Rugby-1)

Rugby-1(Rugby-1) — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:01:02 +0000

@Taahirah(Taahirah)-25:

Dalton was a big fighter in Joburg back then – big mates with Brian Mitchell too so learnt plenty tricks and knew how to handle himself – bit of a nutcase though! Not that I would tell him to his face

By: Ned(Ned)

Ned(Ned) — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:01:14 +0000

Ryan, I am not a big fan of your writing…BUT…what a brilliant piece of writing this is, and oh so damn true, cant hide the facts. Well Done! And I am not even a bulls fan… I will buy the magazine this month just for this piece. Well Done! Matfield (love or hate the man), he is a genius.

By: logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)

logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck) — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:50:31 +0000

@Taahirah(Taahirah)-27: do you even need to ask that question? i doubt bakkies knows how to lose a fight?

By: Taahirah(Taahirah)

Taahirah(Taahirah) — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:47:57 +0000

@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-26: Bet he would! While on the topic: Does anyone know who won the boxing match between Vic and Bakkies at Kamp Staaldraad?

By: logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)

logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck) — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:42:45 +0000

@Taahirah(Taahirah)-25: i can't remember...i was intoxicated myself....but i seem to remember old dalton gave vic a run for his money....

By: Taahirah(Taahirah)

Taahirah(Taahirah) — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:40:15 +0000

@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-24: Who won?

By: logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)

logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck) — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:31:51 +0000

I was a young student in PE (18 or 19 years old) partying at Tapas bar and in walked Victor Matfield with the Griquas squad. They played EP that Saturday, but for some reason James Dalton was there as well. All was well until after a couple of beers we all looked on when big lanky Vic and James Dalton was on the floor in a fist fight….having a full go at each other.

I will never forget that incident…he has come a long way and he could not have been much older than 21 then.

Well done Vic, you are a legend. Along with so many of this bok era…..

By: XV(XV)

XV(XV) — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:45:46 +0000

well written Ryan

By: Jinx(Jinx)

Jinx(Jinx) — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:43:01 +0000

I respect you Victor…

By: Bluewave(BloemBull)

Bluewave(BloemBull) — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:27:15 +0000

@pierre(pierre)-16: He was the first captain to lead the Boks to a victory over the All Blacks, this decade, in NZ.

By: Rugby-1(Rugby-1)

Rugby-1(Rugby-1) — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:03:38 +0000

Brilliant article – more of these please

As for Matfield, what a legend. Done it and won it all. If Smit was unable to make it to the 2011 WC (though I hope he still does make it) the Boks would be in good hands with Big Vic as leader. That never used to be the case

Good luck Saturday Bulls, don’t take a backward step to those Saders. Going to be a cracker!

By: sharks_lover(sharks_lover)

sharks_lover(sharks_lover) — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:23:34 +0000

@rangerman(rangerman)-18:

By: rangerman(rangerman)

rangerman(rangerman) — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:19:49 +0000

great player and good luck for the weekend Vic!

us sharkies will be cheering your lads on! (i did for kots in my mond so bietjie)

By: conspiracy theorist(conspiracy theorist)

conspiracy theorist(conspiracy theorist) — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:15:22 +0000

Since when did a yankee understand the principle of “moer vem wif a brick!”?

By: pierre(pierre)

pierre(pierre) — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:09:31 +0000

Great player. Good captain in the context of local and mostly homogenous community like the Bulls. **** Springbok captain, though.

By: stormersboy(stormersboy)

stormersboy(stormersboy) — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:50:51 +0000

Nice article. Quite a pro-mo piece, but he really is one of the best we’ve ever had.

In the modern game, he’ll stand alongside the names of Pienaar, Smit and Teichman