Cape Town - Despite Heyneke Meyer's insistence that he won't play favourites, most Sport24 readers believe Victor Matfield's return to the Springbok team to renew his alliance with the former Bulls coach is a virtual certainty.
Before Matfield announced his comeback, he wrote this in a column:
"If the Bok coach asks me to play again, and he thinks I am still good enough, will I accept?"
“If he does - and that’s a big ‘if’ - then it would be a very tough decision."
Meyer earlier this year said he was very happy that Matfield had decided to make a return to playing the game after coaching at the Bulls last season.
“I have always maintained that we have a lack of depth at No 5 lock and believed that Victor could still make a valuable contribution as a player,” said Meyer.
Meyer stressed, however, that Matfield "was not given any guarantees about Springbok selection".
But according to our poll, most Sport24 readers don't believe Matfield would have returned without being virtually guaranteed a Springbok spot:
Sport24 asked:
"Victor Matfield has come out of retirement to play for the Bulls in this year's Super Rugby tournament - and is eyeing a 2015 RWC berth as well..."
These were the results:
37% - No way he would return without being virtually guaranteed a Springbok spot
28% - He's over the hill and wasting his time
29% - He'll be fine at Super Rugby level, but won't cut it in the Green and Gold
6% - Victor who?
Will Victor Matfield and Heyneke Meyer renew their alliance? (Gallo Image)
Before Matfield announced his comeback, he wrote this in a column:
"If the Bok coach asks me to play again, and he thinks I am still good enough, will I accept?"
“If he does - and that’s a big ‘if’ - then it would be a very tough decision."
Meyer earlier this year said he was very happy that Matfield had decided to make a return to playing the game after coaching at the Bulls last season.
“I have always maintained that we have a lack of depth at No 5 lock and believed that Victor could still make a valuable contribution as a player,” said Meyer.
Meyer stressed, however, that Matfield "was not given any guarantees about Springbok selection".
But according to our poll, most Sport24 readers don't believe Matfield would have returned without being virtually guaranteed a Springbok spot:
Sport24 asked:
"Victor Matfield has come out of retirement to play for the Bulls in this year's Super Rugby tournament - and is eyeing a 2015 RWC berth as well..."
These were the results:
37% - No way he would return without being virtually guaranteed a Springbok spot
28% - He's over the hill and wasting his time
29% - He'll be fine at Super Rugby level, but won't cut it in the Green and Gold
6% - Victor who?
Will Victor Matfield and Heyneke Meyer renew their alliance? (Gallo Image)