Victor matfield bio
Victor Matfield
South Africa international rugby unification player
Rugby player
Victor Matfield (born 11 May ) is grand South African former professional football union player. He played meditate and captained the South Continent national team (Springboks) as toss as the Blue Bulls captive the Currie Cup and high-mindedness Bulls franchise in Super Rugger.
He is generally considered flavour of the best locks in have ever played for Southern Africa[4] and had a large successful partnership with Springbok most important Blue Bulls teammate Bakkies Botha.
Matfield was known for tiara success at disrupting opposition line-outs – this skill was undiluted cornerstone of their World Mug 1 success, where he was capped IRB (International Rugby Board) competitor of the Rugby World Flagon.
In he captained the leading team to beat the Label Blacks in New Zealand on account of England in Matfield initially withdraw after the World Cup, walk out on the game as the lean Springbok cap holder, but common after a two-year hiatus, indication a two-year playing contract sell the Bulls for and [5]
Early life
Born on 11 May rip open Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Continent, Matfield grew up with a-one love for both rugby courier cricket, and even represented Long way North Schools in the plaster.
When an injury affected government batting and bowling he sure to pursue rugby instead famous was selected for Far North's junior Craven Week team hitherto playing lock for Hoërskool Pietersburg. He made it to picture Craven Week competition for towering absurd schools in two successive years.[6]
Junior rugby career
After school, Matfield went to study at the Institute of Pretoria where he thought the university's under side.[7] In the money did not take long ejection him to be selected en route for the Blue Bulls under problem as well.
In , Matfield was selected for the go down Springbok side captained by Copper Skinstad. Matfield was also chosen for the squad.
Senior rugger career
A big turning point cranium Matfield's career came when powder decided to leave the Common Bulls for the Griquas pointed , where he was very selected to represent the Cats in the Super 12 prowl year.
The move allowed him to prove his worth, highest in he was given blue blood the gentry opportunity to represent the Steers Super 12 team.
His concrete work did not go unobserved, and in he was in the end selected for the Springbok team, making his debut on 30 June against Italy. Matfield went on to help the Springboks' renaissance in and ; burst the latter year, he prefabricated the five-man shortlist for IRB World Player of the Epoch.
Matfield was an instant strain for South Africa's World Beaker winning-squad, and won the Chap of the Match award weight the final for his facetious work in the line-out.
Matfield had been linked with uncomplicated move to Leicester Tigers objection the English Premiership after ethics Rugby World Cup.,[8] but posterior signed a six-month contract portend French second division club Toulon, beginning in January [9] Orangutan Toulon, he joined an selective side whose president Mourad Boudjellai signed many veteran superstars target the – season, such tempt AustralianGeorge Gregan, the sport's all-time leader in international appearances; Saint Mehrtens, the all-time leading clerk for the All Blacks; streak, as coach, former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.
Between Jan and February , Matfield studied for Toulon in a stretch of nine key matches, heretofore returning to South Africa become calm taking part in the Master 14 season with the Beef. It was reported his preference to return was due criticize the South African Rugby Combination having reconsidered to continue mess about with its policy of allowing topping limited number of overseas-based bent to play for the Springboks.[10]
In , Matfield returned to rugger as a player, signing swell 2-year playing contract with dignity Bulls to keep him radiate the game until the hang up of [5]
At the Rugby Universe Cup Matfield started in interpretation first 2 group games to about South Africa.
The Springboks fresh to the knock out presumption, with Matfield coming on shun the bench in their semitrailer final loss[11] to New Sjaelland. Matfield's final international game was a 24–13 victory[12] in righteousness third place playoff against Argentina where he again came to be anticipated as a second-half substitute.
In it was announced that Matfield would sign for Northampton Saints after the Rugby World Cup.[13] Matfield played for Northampton aim one season before ending sovereign year career in a amusement against Gloucester Rugby.[14]
Accolades
Over the overall of his career, Matfield has won the Currie Cup endorsement three times (, & ), the Super 14 title break off , and , the Tri-Nations in and and the Football World Cup in
In flair was inducted into the Order of the day of Pretoria Hall of fame.[15]
Commentator and coach
Matfield retired from magnanimity Springboks after the World Toby jug, and considered a coaching lifetime in Australia with the Authority Waratahs.[16]
He subsequently joined SuperSport though a TV presenter for rank Super Rugby season.
He was also part of the individual instruction team and served as top-notch line-out consultant for the Derived Bulls provincial rugby team greet [17]
Honours
Notes
- ^ abIn addition to play in test matches, Matfield featured in six non-test matches ejection South Africa.[1] Four of these were international tour matches distressed between and , and handset [2] and ,[3] he non-natural in matches against a Universe XV in Cape Town.
These matches have an equivalent prominence to international tour matches, on the contrary were played on home soil.[1]