Your Player Profile of Victor Matfield.
Victor Matfield
Height: 2.00m
Weight: 108kg
Born: 11 May 1977
Position: Lock
Franchise: The Bulls
Super Rugby debut: 1999 Cats vs Brumbies
Super Rugby Caps: 109
Springbok number: 705
Test debut: 2001 vs Italy in Port Elizabeth
Test Caps: 101 (Captain in 11 tests)
Honours:
SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee, 2001 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 & 2009.
SuperSport Try of the Year, 2004 (vs Australia in Durban).
IRB Player of the Year award nominee, 2004.
Most capped Springbok lock – 101
Holds the World Record with Bakkies Botha for most tests as a lock combination in the starting line – up (56)
Arguably the best lock in world rugby for the past number of years. His prowess at the lineouts, in particular, has led to numerous plaudits and acclaim. These accolades have been earned through his consistently strong performances at all levels and due to the hours he dedicates analysing his opponents. This has enabled Matfield to develop a knack for figuring out what the opposition might do. He has formed a devastating locking partnership with Bakkies Botha. He is a strong leader, captaining the Springboks to their historic win over the All Blacks in Dunedin in 2008. Further more Victor has won numerous titles on the international stage, including the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France (he was named the man of the match in the final), 2009 Test Series against the British & Irish Lions, 2004 and 2009 Tri Nations, 2007, 2009 and 2010 Super14.
Q&A with Victor
Your earliest rugby memory?
Captain of the u/7 team and ran away with the team because we lost.
Hero growing up?
Adrian Kuiper
You have an unlimited amount of money, what would you buy?
House in Harold’s Bay
First position played?
No 8
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Champions train when others rest
What other sport did you compete in at school?
Cricket
If you where not a professional rugby player what else would you have like to do as a profession?
Cricket player
Toughest opponent?
Paul O’Connell
Do you have any superstitions before a game?
My cheat day on Fridays before game day
What do you do to relax away from rugby?
Golf and Hunting
Favorite drink?
Cream Soda
What three items would take with you on a desert island?
My wife and two daughters
Tell us something the fans don’t know about you?
I have a 6 handicap in golf
What would you have for your last meal?
Oxtail
Ten question blitz!
1. Cricket / Soccer?
2. Wine / Beer?
3. Summer / Winter?
4. Book / Movies?
5. Wors / Salad?
6. Loftus / Twickenham?
7. All Blacks / England?
8. Beach / Bosveld?
9. Kurt Darren / Celine Dion?
10. Ruck / Lineout?
Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977 in Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls provincial side and Bulls Super 14 franchise. He stands 2 meters tall and weighs 110 kilograms (6’7″, 242 lb). He plays the position of lock and is considered one of the best locks in the world.
Matfield is known for his exceptional skill at disrupting opposition line-outs and his speed around the field with the former Australian coach Eddie Jones once joking that he should be an Olympic sprinter instead.
Youth
Growing up Matfield had a love for both rugby and cricket, and even represented Far North Schools in the latter. When an injury affected his batting and bowling he decided to pursue rugby instead and was selected for Far Norths junior Craven Week team before playing lock for Pietersburg Highschool. He made it to the Craven Week competition for highschools in two successive years before being selected for Far North’s senior provincial team while still in his final year of high school.
Junior rugby career
After school, Matfield went to study at the University of Pretoria where he made the university’s under-21 side. It did not take long for him to be selected for the Blue Bulls under-21 side as well.
In 1997, Matfield was selected for the under-21 Springbok side captained by Bobby Skinstad. Matfield was also selected for the 1998 squad.
Senior rugby career
A big turning point in Matfield’s career came when he decided to leave the Blue Bulls for the Griquas in 1999, where he was also selected to represent the Cats in the Super 12 that year. The move allowed him to prove his worth, and in 2000 he was given the opportunity to represent the Bulls Super 12 team.
His hard work did not go unnoticed, and in 2001 he was finally selected for the Springbok squad, making his debut on 30 June 2001 against Italy. Matfield went on to play a major role in the Springboks’ renaissance in 2004 and 2005; in the latter year, he made the five-man shortlist for IRB World Player of the Year.
More recently, he has been linked with a move to Leicester Tigers of the English Premiership after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.