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Pretoria - Former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer on Friday presented the Springbok jerseys to the Test team playing the Wallabies in a Tri-Nations Test at Loftus on Saturday.
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For lock Victor Matfield this was a special occasion on the eve of his 100th Test match.
Citing last year’s victories in the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions and the Tri-Nations title the Boks won with only a single defeat from their six Tests as the highlights of his international career, Matfield said that Meyer was the man who had the greatest influence on his rugby career.
"It is always good to hear such praise from someone as respected as Heyneke.
He is the man who taught me most about the game and I appreciate this praise," Matfield said when told that Meyer had said that Matfield was one of the greatest players to have played rugby.
Meyer and Matfield were the duo who secured the first Super 14 win for a South African side in 2007 when the Bulls beat the Sharks in Durban. Even before that famous victory Meyer said that Matfield was the best captain he had been involved with and predicted that his protg would become an international skipper - which he did.
When handing over the jerseys to Saturday’s team, Meyer said it may be easy to say it now but it is not a surprise that Matfield will be playing in his 100th Test.
"What people do not realise is that he is not only the best lineout player, he is also a great all-round player and he often pops up at the right place at the right time.
"What stands out about Victor is his professionalism both on and off the field. And he has matured into one of the greatest leaders of the game with one of the greatest work ethics out there."
Matfield, a humble giant who has achieved everything there is to win in rugby for a South African - the World Cup, a British and Irish Lions series win, the Tri-Nations, the Super 14, the Currie Cup - also had high praise for Springbok captain John Smit, who has led the Boks in 74 Tests and played his 100th Test last weekend.
Having captained the Springboks in 11 Tests, Matfield said that he had learnt a tremendous amount from Smit.
Playing his 100th Test at Loftus is also special. When Andries Bekker withdrew with an injury from the match against Wales for which Matfield had been rested, the Bulls captain was called up to join the squad in Cardiff and play in the Test.
"I then worked out that my 100th game would be at Loftus. It is a really special place for me, a sort of second home with so many good memories and where I made so many good friends." The world’s best lineout man said that his achievement tomorrow remained just that: an achievement. The focus is on winning the Test against the Wallabies after losing their first Tri-Nations encounter in Brisbane 30-13.
"It would make the day more special if we win the match. We must take the pressure off ourselves and just go out there and play rugby," he said.
Heyneke Meyer and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers share a joke (Gallo Images)
