Rugby
Matfield: I'd play for Heyneke
2012-01-26 08:08
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Cape Town - Former
Springbok and Bulls captain Victor Matfield could come out of
retirement, but only if Heyneke Meyer is unveiled as the
new Springbok
coach on Friday, the Cape Times newspaper reported on Thursday.
Matfield
retired at the end of last year after an illustrious career with the
Springboks and Bulls, but said he would consider a return to the field
if Meyer called on him to do so.
“Everyone knows what I think
about Heyneke, but we must wait until Friday before we talk about it,”
the former lock told the newspaper.
“Let’s wait and see what
happens, we will see, we will talk. Everything has consequences.
Playing, I don’t know ... but we will see. It depends if he wants me. I
really don’t know, it is difficult to say,” Matfield said.
Matfield,
34, is certain to feature in Meyer’s management structure in the
Springbok team if he is not asked to return as a player - probably as a
technical adviser or a lineout consultant, a role Matfield currently
holds at the Bulls.
Matfield captained the Bulls to a Super 14 and Currie Cup title
under Meyer’s mentorship.
A return to rugby by Matfield is likely
to lure the likes of Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Botha and Gurthro
Steenkamp back into the national team after their departure overseas.
If
Matfield is to return under Meyer, it would probably be for a season or
two just for Meyer to get to grips with the structure at national level
and it would also solve the next big dilemma of who the next Springbok
captain will be.
The Blue Bulls Company said on Wednesday that
The SA Rugby Union had approached it for the services Meyer, the club's
executive for rugby.
Talks between the two parties took place in Cape Town on Wednesday.