Publications
Partners
Adnaan Mohamed
Wellington – Springbok lock Victor Matfield believes that the All Black captain Richie McCaw and their fly-half Dan Carter are getting away with murder.
Matfield was speaking after the Springboks 31-17 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks at the Westpac stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
“It seems as if they are untouchable. The refs allow them to get away with murder,” a disappointed Matfield said afterwards.
“It’s sad, but I still don’t believe that Danie (Rossouw) deserved a yellow card.
“I cannot say much about the ref (Alain Rolland), because I will get into trouble. But there were a few times on attack when we struggled to play because our ball was deliberately slowed down,” said Matfield.
The 97 Test match veteran believes the laws at the breakdowns are not applied the same in the Tri-Nations as it was in the Super 14.
“In the Super 14 things were interpreted a bit differently. We will have to do a bit of video work on the refs to see how we can adapt. We will also have to look at ourselves,” he said.
“Everything is about decision making and securing quick ball. If we can get quick ball and more numbers at the breakdowns, we will be able to convert it into points.
“Against a team like the All Blacks you cannot afford to play with 14 men, especially if it happens early on in a game. It gives them momentum and self confidence and puts us under pressure. I still don’t know why Danie (Rossouw) was yellow carded. We will have to go back and look at it again. Danie himself was very surprised when he was yellow carded.”
Matfield believes it is necessary to at least get one victory from the overseas leg of the Tri-Nations, if they still want to remain in the running in the competition.
“It is a big game for us because we have never won in Brisbane before. It’s never easy to come back from two losses. But the guys know what is expected of them because they have done it before,” he added.
Wellington – Springbok lock Victor Matfield believes that the All Black captain Richie McCaw and their fly-half Dan Carter are getting away with murder.
Matfield was speaking after the Springboks 31-17 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks at the Westpac stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
“It seems as if they are untouchable. The refs allow them to get away with murder,” a disappointed Matfield said afterwards.
“It’s sad, but I still don’t believe that Danie (Rossouw) deserved a yellow card.
“I cannot say much about the ref (Alain Rolland), because I will get into trouble. But there were a few times on attack when we struggled to play because our ball was deliberately slowed down,” said Matfield.
The 97 Test match veteran believes the laws at the breakdowns are not applied the same in the Tri-Nations as it was in the Super 14.
“In the Super 14 things were interpreted a bit differently. We will have to do a bit of video work on the refs to see how we can adapt. We will also have to look at ourselves,” he said.
“Everything is about decision making and securing quick ball. If we can get quick ball and more numbers at the breakdowns, we will be able to convert it into points.
“Against a team like the All Blacks you cannot afford to play with 14 men, especially if it happens early on in a game. It gives them momentum and self confidence and puts us under pressure. I still don’t know why Danie (Rossouw) was yellow carded. We will have to go back and look at it again. Danie himself was very surprised when he was yellow carded.”
Matfield believes it is necessary to at least get one victory from the overseas leg of the Tri-Nations, if they still want to remain in the running in the competition.
“It is a big game for us because we have never won in Brisbane before. It’s never easy to come back from two losses. But the guys know what is expected of them because they have done it before,” he added.
