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JJ Harmse
Auckland – Two good training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Takapuna club’s Onewa Park is virtually a given and should get the Springboks in the right frame of mind for Saturday’s big Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Springbok lock Victor Matfield believes one or two lost line-outs early in the match may just unnerve the All Blacks.
Matfield is the Boks’ most experienced player against the All Blacks and will be playing his 21st Test against them.
He has been on the winning side in four of the last five Tests against them – and the 33-year-old lock believes the team has the self-belief and intensity to make it four wins in a row.
“I’m not really concerned that our first training session will only be on Tuesday. It’s the Tri-Nations and the players’ intensity will pick up by itself. Everything is in place and the two sessions will have us sharp for Saturday,” said Matfield.
Matfield takes a lot of confidence from the Boks’ performances against Wales and France.
“Those were good Tests for us and I believe we’ll get back to that level quickly.”
The fact that the All Black line-out was such a disaster in last year’s Tri-Nations can only increase the motivation.
“Yes, we had success, but I understand that they have invested a lot of work and energy into their line-out since. It’s one area in which we like to exert pressure. One or two lineout poaches early in the Test may just pile more pressure on them and ensure that things work out for us,” said Matfield.
“They have subsequently picked Tom Donnelly as No 5 lock and he’s doing good work, but it remains an area that we will focus on. It will be very important for us because the rolling mauls worked very well for South African teams in the Super 14 and it’s something we can try.”
Like the high kicks?
“Yes, the Bulls and Stormers had good kicking patterns in the Super 14 and were successful against New Zealand teams. It can work again, but I’m more excited about the success that we can have with the line-out drives.”
Auckland – Two good training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Takapuna club’s Onewa Park is virtually a given and should get the Springboks in the right frame of mind for Saturday’s big Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Springbok lock Victor Matfield believes one or two lost line-outs early in the match may just unnerve the All Blacks.
Matfield is the Boks’ most experienced player against the All Blacks and will be playing his 21st Test against them.
He has been on the winning side in four of the last five Tests against them – and the 33-year-old lock believes the team has the self-belief and intensity to make it four wins in a row.
“I’m not really concerned that our first training session will only be on Tuesday. It’s the Tri-Nations and the players’ intensity will pick up by itself. Everything is in place and the two sessions will have us sharp for Saturday,” said Matfield.
Matfield takes a lot of confidence from the Boks’ performances against Wales and France.
“Those were good Tests for us and I believe we’ll get back to that level quickly.”
The fact that the All Black line-out was such a disaster in last year’s Tri-Nations can only increase the motivation.
“Yes, we had success, but I understand that they have invested a lot of work and energy into their line-out since. It’s one area in which we like to exert pressure. One or two lineout poaches early in the Test may just pile more pressure on them and ensure that things work out for us,” said Matfield.
“They have subsequently picked Tom Donnelly as No 5 lock and he’s doing good work, but it remains an area that we will focus on. It will be very important for us because the rolling mauls worked very well for South African teams in the Super 14 and it’s something we can try.”
Like the high kicks?
“Yes, the Bulls and Stormers had good kicking patterns in the Super 14 and were successful against New Zealand teams. It can work again, but I’m more excited about the success that we can have with the line-out drives.”
