Matfield the Master
13 Jun 2011
MARK KEOHANE, in his Business Day newspaper rugby column, lauds Victor Matfield’s mastery of Andries Bekker and the Stormers.
The occasion demanded Andries Bekker to peel away just a bit of the Victor Matfield aura, but as with the Super Rugby final of 2010 it was the veteran Matfield who simply added to his aura. He remains the best lineout specialist and strategist South Africa has produced and his performance in the 19-16 win against the Stormers at Newlands provides the comfort that Matfield still has the strength of mind and physical capacity to be influential and dominant at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
There were whispers on the eve of the match that Bekker was injured and would not play. The Stormers management denied this but if there was no injury to Bekker before the game then there definitely was to him afterwards – and I am talking about those psychological scars that are a lot more lasting than any physical beating.
Bekker’s performance was always going to be critical to a Stormers victory, but the player who has stood tallest all season had to be content with an evening in the shadow of the master Matfield. It was another reminder that Bekker, for all the potential to be better than Matfield, has not yet delivered in those big moments. Until he does he hasn’t earned the right to be spoken of internationally in the same breath.
The wind conditions at Newlands were testing but the reason the Stormers lost three of their first six lineout balls had more to do with the presence of Matfield than the weather.
The Bulls deserved the win because they played the better finals type rugby and made fewer mistakes. The Stormers fumbled their way through the first 70 minutes and some of the basic handling errors were embarrassing for players at this level.
The defence on both sides was effective and the Stormers were marginally more creative in attack, but the Stormers could not replicate the aggression they showed against the Sharks a month ago.
The match had the traditional South African-derby brutality but as a spectacle it failed to deliver to a capacity Newlands crowd, whose doubts about the Stormers this morning will be justified.
There will be similar questions around the Bulls ability to win away from home in a one-off situation should they be required to travel to Australia or New Zealand for a match against the Reds or Crusaders.
The attacking efficiency from both sides at Newlands was substandard. The Bulls scored from a Stormers lineout mistake and the Stormers scored with two minutes to go and could have had a match-winner with the last movement of the game had Bryan Habana shown the express pace of four years ago to beat the cover defence.
Creatively this match offered nothing for the first 75 minutes as South Africa’s two best teams hammered away at each other. It was all too predictable and from a Cape perspective so too was the result because once again the Stormers lost a match they were favourites to win and once again every doubt resurfaced about the championship capabilities of the Cape-based side, who have lost to the Reds, Crusaders and Bulls at Newlands this season.
Those excusing the Stormers defeat will seek comfort in the Stormers going so close despite having to select their fourth-choice flyhalf because of injuries.
But this was a Bulls team missing Bakkies Botha and Fourie du Preez. Come on, there can be no excuse for the Capetonians.
The Stormers, in securing the bonus point, claimed the South African Conference but they can’t claim the bragging rights of being a cut above the rest of the South African teams and the visit to Bloemfontein has the potential for more questions than answers.
The Sharks and Bulls will determine their own play-off destiny when they front each other in this Saturday’s final league match and everything now favours a home team win and Sharks play-off elimination.
The Sharks decline over the last six weeks has been gradual and a more composed opponent would have humiliated them in Johannesburg. The Lions led 30-9 after 55 minutes, lost Butch James to the sin-bin in the last quarter and were defending their line at 30-all.
I don’t know which would have been worse for Lions coach John Mitchell … to get stuffed or to stuff it up like this?
James, up until his yellow card, had played splendidly at flyhalf and like with Matfield at Newlands the Bok veteran definitely can make a contribution to South Africa’s World Cup success.
398 Comments
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13 Jun 2011, 12:22 pm
@NicG(NicG)-43: The Cheetahs/Stormers game has more of a chance of being an upset than the Bulls/Sharks game. I say that, because the Cheetahs are playing this last game for a bit of a jol, and some pride. That’s always a dangerous combination when it comes to the Cheetahs.
The Bulls/Sharks fixture is much more cut and dried to me. Bulls to win by 10 or more.
13 Jun 2011, 12:22 pm
rubbish article from keohane.on the basis of the worst display by two stormers hookers these past two years keohane comes to the conclusion that matfield,who regularly has been owned by kiwi and aussie locks these past two years, has his aura back and that bekker is psychologically scarred for life.get real keohane.
13 Jun 2011, 12:25 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-6: @stormersboy(stormersboy)-22: @Stormtrooper(Stormtrooper)-20:
Excuses, excuses, hell even blaming the ref. It was there for all to see that Kaplan did his best to manufacture a briesies win. If not for him, the winning margin would have been way bigger. Red card the ******* e r.
Bekker has always been the pretender, ole beanpole foulds to easily when up against real men. Stay on the parkbench boy.
Duane who?
The Bulls, although dissapointing did what they had to do. BMT versus the fragile briesies will win every BIG game.
13 Jun 2011, 12:26 pm
******** = farker
13 Jun 2011, 12:27 pm
The funniest thing about this article is that it is a complete reversal in what Keo was saying before the weekend. But, then we all know that there were about 50 articles on here saying how the Stormers would beat the Bulls…..:-) Just like the week prior to the Currie Cup final as well….
13 Jun 2011, 12:27 pm
I’d love to see those post-game stats, but I don’t recall the Bulls’ lineout running particularly well either. The reality is that both sides were better disrupting the opposition than winning their own ball, although (yes) The Bulls did have the edge at set-piece.
Funny thing is, had Habana or the Stormers support gone in for that try at the death, then everyone would have been talking about Matfield’s missed tackle on Jaque Fourie that led to the crucial break. (http://bit.ly/m6Lx3y 5:50-5:52) Small margins, as always.
But, whatever… Great to have both Matfield and Becker in the Bok setup.
13 Jun 2011, 12:28 pm
if the boks do badly in the tri-nations one can link it to the S15. the saffa top teams lost to the top teams from the other conferences.
Pdv will be under pressure to not do wholesale changes if they do bad in the 3 nations given that there are some old goats in the side.
13 Jun 2011, 12:29 pm
Should call old Tappit Vermeulen Verdwyn Vermeulen after Sat game
13 Jun 2011, 12:29 pm
@stickman(stickman)-56: I wonder how Habana feels about being hauled in by Basson from behind ?
13 Jun 2011, 12:31 pm
butch James is certainly going to make a contribution in this rwc…he will be sent off. his awful tackling is coming to the fore because he can’t keep up.
13 Jun 2011, 12:34 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-57: No they didn’t. Stormers and Sharks both beat the Blues. Waratahs lost to the Bulls and Sharks….so your statement is not completely accurate.
13 Jun 2011, 12:34 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-59: i wonder how you gonna feel when basson signs your s15 exit ticket on saturday?
13 Jun 2011, 12:34 pm
bull scrum
now had the
better of
sharks
cheetahs
and stormers
it tells you
what
13 Jun 2011, 12:36 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-60:
Nice try,lol..how about the Wallabies get their “Test captain” Rocky Elsom on the pitch first
13 Jun 2011, 12:37 pm
@Valkyrie(Valkyrie)-62: Buddy, I have already resigned myself to the fact that the Sharks season is over. Look for another Sharks supporter to talk kak too.
13 Jun 2011, 12:38 pm
Go Cheeters,you have jonker so Kaplan the kant cannot influence the game the Stormers way.
Bulle gaan die Sharks looi.
Oh how I wish the Bulls end 6th and the Stormpies 3rd. Just make sure if Kaplan has the whistle that he gets taken out early Vic. It will be the easiest game with the next weeks semi in mind.
13 Jun 2011, 12:40 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-64:
replace elsom as captain with either genia, pocock, horwill.
13 Jun 2011, 12:41 pm
On the positive note is that, even after the loss to the Bulls, the Stormers still have their destiny in their own hands, they must win in Bloem and enjoy a bi-weekend, whilst the Sahrks or Bulls will have to go and play the Crusaders. Its that’s simple, really
13 Jun 2011, 12:42 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-59:
People said the same when Takudzwa Ngwenya rounded him on RWC 2007…went on to equal Jonah Lomu’s single tournament tri record with 8 tries.
And earlier in the season at Loftus when Stormers beat Bulls he beat Basson to score match changing try.
13 Jun 2011, 12:44 pm
@Xkreni-WP(Xkreni-WP)-66: For the Bulls to end 6th they have to lose or draw to the Sharks, dumbass.
13 Jun 2011, 12:44 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-69: Well, then Basson must have had his pap ‘n vleis the night before Saturday’s game. Habana had a good couple of meters on him and he still got him. Seems to me. I didn’t see from the front, did Habana have his mouth open ? Because if he did that would act as an air break. He should put a piece of tape across his lips for aerodynamics.
13 Jun 2011, 12:45 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-51: I know we have been cr@p this year, but if we hit them with the 2nd half rythm stick (and it will take a few team changes from the start), then not such a foregone conclusion. The Bulls were sucking air at the end of the Stormers game and we never extended ourselves (so other than some tired legs and the slightly larger problem of trying to hit form), we are still in with an outside chance.
13 Jun 2011, 12:45 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-59: That he’s not the player he was two seasons ago!
More seriously though, don’t think anyone could realistically have scored from that position (‘cept maybe one of those Fijian monster wingers)… Of course, V/d Heever was coming in defence on the angle as well. Nonetheless, Basson is very good and very fast. No qualms about him in a Springbok jumper.
13 Jun 2011, 12:45 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-67:
wont happen,especially under Deans.Not a turncoat like Ozzie media,would never change Test cappie now.Otherwise Reuben Thorne would have been chopped liver by 2003/4 for both Saders/AB
13 Jun 2011, 12:47 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-68:
Not quite that simple, if the Crusaders claims a bonus point victory over the Hurricanes this weekend which is quite likely, and the Reds get win or two points from theirs, the superior points difference of the Crusaders might see them pip the Stormers for second place on the log if they only get 4 log points.
But they will know before kick off just what is needed, as theirs is the last game of the weekend.
13 Jun 2011, 12:48 pm
@NicG(NicG)-72: There is only one way, and that is to do something the Sharks haven’t done all season, so a massive ask. They will have to gain momentum from the kick off – it’s the only way with the Bulls. You have to hit them early, and hope that it waivers their confidence. Just like the Currie Cup semi-final. I reckon Keegan’s early try was a huge psychological blow to the Bulls.
But, like I say – Sharks haven’t been able to pull that off all season, so how on earth they going to suddenly do it at Loftus ?
13 Jun 2011, 12:49 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-70:
If the stormers end 3rd then that is what they must do dumbass
13 Jun 2011, 12:51 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-65: I don’t buy that at all, you guys have been the loudest mouths since your “successful” tour, that was just before the Crusaders knocked the stuffings out of you. Now you have become “no-hopers” or under dogs?.
No, man up, go to Loftus and win, it will be 15 against 15
13 Jun 2011, 12:54 pm
The more important question is:
Is Ryan Vrede now the Master, and Keo the Has-been, after their public square off on Keotubby TV before the Bulls/Stormers clash?
13 Jun 2011, 12:54 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-76: Some fresh faces in the starting line-up to shake things up and desperation to stay in the tournament… stranger things have happened.
Having said that – Bulls are the real deal when it counts (even if they were gifted 2007 with 2 sh*t calls after the whistle should have been blown). They know how to play percentage rugby and apply pressure when it counts.
I’m still keeping my fingers crossed – couldn’t otherwise call myself a supporter!
13 Jun 2011, 12:55 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-78: Just being realistic dude. No doubt, the Sharks will go there to win. I doubt they are surrendering – but, looking at their performances recently I just cannot see them beating the Bulls. It would take a total swing in form for that to happen.
13 Jun 2011, 12:56 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-75: Exactly, we dont have to rely on anyone else to do us a favour, we have worked hard in order to be in this position, at least when and if we choke against the Cheetahs then we can look at ourselves straight in the eyes and call ourselves Chokers!!!.
13 Jun 2011, 12:57 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-75:
I thought points difference is irrelevant, as the Crusaders beat the Stormers when they met this year. And the record between the two teams counts for more than overall points difference, or am I mistaken?
13 Jun 2011, 12:59 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-75: i thought they look at WINS before they go to PD, open to correction though.
13 Jun 2011, 13:00 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-83:
Got a mail this morning confirming the process that would be followed should teams end up on same log points:
Most wins from all matches
• Highest aggregate points difference from all matches
• Most tries from all matches
• Highest aggregate difference in tries for and against from all matches
• Coin toss (only used to determine Finalists)
13 Jun 2011, 13:00 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-82: I thought you had already looked yourself square in the eyes and called yourselves chokers ? I mean 2010 – Two finals, two runners up medals….the biggest chokers usually only show their colors in the final – or at least that is always what I was told about the Sharks.
13 Jun 2011, 13:01 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-84:
You are quite correct, most wins first, then points difference, Stormers just need a win therfore to end second.
13 Jun 2011, 13:02 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-85:
So who has won more matches between the Saders and Stormers?
13 Jun 2011, 13:02 pm
Stormers currently stand 11 from 15, Crusaders 10.
13 Jun 2011, 13:04 pm
The Bulls best bet is actually for the Stormers to end first and for the Blues to lose.
That way, we can end fourth, have a quarterfinal at Loftus and a semifinal at Newlands. Then the worst case scenario is just a one game trip overseas for the final or even, if team 6 beats team 3, the possibility of a final at Loftus.
13 Jun 2011, 13:05 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-85: Then we just need to beat the Cheetah?, if I’m correct, regardless of by how much
13 Jun 2011, 13:07 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-91:
Correct, any win will see Stormers end 2nd. Even if only by a single point.
13 Jun 2011, 13:10 pm
@Xkreni-WP(Xkreni-WP)-77: if the bulls lose it might be tickets for them.you might need to go slow on your hatred for the stormers this saturday.
13 Jun 2011, 13:10 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-90: Are you opening up a can of whoopass here already ? The Bulls haven’t beaten the Sharks yet buddy. It’s almost a certainty that they will, but there is still the little matter of 80 minutes of rugby. Or are the Bulls underestimating the Sharks again like the Currie Cup semi-final ?
13 Jun 2011, 13:12 pm
@Valkyrie(Valkyrie)-93: For the Bulls and Sharks it all hinges on whether the Brumbies will do us a favour and beat the Waratahs. If the Waratahs win their match, then the loser of Bulls vs Sharks will definitely drop out.
13 Jun 2011, 13:12 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-94:
No, but whether we beat the Sharks or not, my scenario above remains our best bet. Cause if we lose to the Sharks, were out. Simple as that.
The Tahs ain’t gonna lose this weekend.
13 Jun 2011, 13:12 pm
if the waratahs win with a bonus point, not likely, the shorks and bulls will know that loser goes home early. the winner will be screwed for the semi play off.
13 Jun 2011, 13:13 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-94:
What! The Sharks lost already. Well the Bulls have written The Sharks off before a match plenty of times in the past with laughable consequences.
13 Jun 2011, 13:14 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-96: I know dude – I am just pulling your leg. I myself reckon the Sharks stand about a 20% chance of winning this weekend. I wouldn’t blame the Bulls if they felt confident for the game. There is no reason not to.
13 Jun 2011, 13:15 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-90: don’t see the tahs beating the crusaders in nz.no final at loftus i am afraid.
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