Lions in SA
Matfield to focus on O'Connell
2009-06-18 15:20
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Massive lineout battle (File)
Durban - South Africa's Victor Matfield said he would use the time remaining before the first Test against the British and Irish Lions focusing on Paul O'Connell's 'outstanding' play in the lineout.
O'Connell will skipper the Lions for Saturday's first Test match against the Springboks in Durban and Matfield said his job was to shackle the Munster man.
"Obviously I need to work on Paul O'Connell because the lineouts are a crucial part of the game and we will be going one-on-one there," Matfield told reporters on Thursday.
"I will be looking at videos to see what he likes to do. But I think he is an outstanding player, he has performed excellently for Ireland for the last five or six years," Matfield said. Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold said he expected both teams to try and grind out victory.
"The best word to describe our approach would be pragmatic. It will be all about good decision-making and taking the opportunities when they present themselves.
"Both the Lions coaches (Ian McGeechan and Warren Gatland) prefer a similar pattern so they are highly unlikely to deviate from that. I think the Lions will probably play low-risk rugby too," Gold said.
He reiterated that the South Africans were happy with their preparations for the series, even though many critics believe they will be rusty.
"I don't think we're underdone. Most of the guys have come through a gruelling Super 14 and the guys know each other very well after nearly six years together.
"The combinations are comfortable with each other and I would much rather be in this position than having played three or four games and picking up a few injuries," Gold said.
Kicking coach Percy Montgomery confirmed that flyhalf Ruan Pienaar and fullback Francois Steyn - from long distance - would be South Africa's goalkickers in the first Test in a stadium notorious for its swirling wind.
"Ruan will take the short-range kicks and Frans will look after the long-range kicks," said Montgomery. "The two of them will consult on the field as to who will take which kicks and also take direction from captain John Smit."
Montgomery said he believed that Pienaar and Steyn would have an advantage at the Absa Stadium Durban, where they have kicked many times for the Sharks.