Former Springbok captain Victor Matfield has opened up about some of the most difficult moments of his illustrious rugby career, including a Test match performance he still ranks as his worst.
Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
Widely regarded as one of the greatest locks in rugby history, Matfield earned 127 Test caps for South Africa, won the 2007 Rugby World Cup and played a key role in some of the Springboks’ most successful teams.
His mastery of the lineout made him one of the most respected forwards of the professional era.
Yet even a player of Matfield’s calibre found certain opponents and occasions particularly challenging. One match against Ireland in 2009 remains etched in his memory after a rare and frustrating afternoon at the lineout.
The man responsible was former Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, whom Matfield named as the toughest opponent he ever faced.
“I’ve said it on many occasions, but Paul is probably the best player I played against in my position, especially when it came to lineouts,” Matfield said.
He credited former coach Gert Smal for helping O’Connell gain an edge.
“Gert knew exactly how I thought about the lineout and I believe he definitely shared that with Paul O’Connell. It was always very difficult to go up against him because he almost knew what I was thinking.”
Matfield also recalled a nightmare outing against Ireland in 2009.
“For the first time in my life, I lost about five lineout balls against Paul O’Connell,” he said. “After that game, I didn’t want to leave my room.”
Despite that painful experience, Matfield said he always enjoyed competing against O’Connell, whom he ultimately regards as the toughest rival of his career.
EDITORS PICKS:
- The 10 best rugby union coaches of all time [Ranked]
- ‘Very Proud’ Gabby Logan Celebrates Twins’ Success in Different Sports
- Welsh Rugby Side Falls To Biggest Defeat In History
- Why Rugby Players Get Cauliflower Ear: Fans Just Realising
- The greatest England rugby squad of all-time
QUIZ: Can you name all 26 teams to have played at the Men’s Rugby World Cups?
Think you know your rugby history? Test your knowledge and see if you can name all 26 teams that have played at the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
You’ve got just 5 minutes on the clock – no pressure!
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
