SOUTH AFRICA’S WORLD Cup-winning second row Victor Matfield is preparing to renew acquaintances with Paul O’Connell, a player he feels is the best he has come up against in his illustrious career.
The veteran duo are likely to lock horns again, 10 years after the two number fives first packed down against one another in Bloemfontein.
“I think he’s a fantastic player,” Matfield says of the Ireland captain, “he’s probably the best player I’ve played against in my career.
“He’s also a student of the line-out, he puts in a lot of hours analysing, preparing and getting his whole unit ready for the weekend. It’s always tough going up against him.”
Making the task even tougher, says Matfield in the team’s Stillorgan hotel, is the residual influence of Ireland’s former forwards coach.
“I always think when Gert Smal was here he gave a lot of insight into how I think about the line-out to Paul, so it makes it more difficult. It’s always a great battle against him and he’s got some great jumpers with him in that unit. So we know it’s going to be very tough. We’ll have to be accurate in what we do because they will definitely put pressure on us at line-out time.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
The Springbok lock knows nothing will come easy at the Aviva Stadium, but is calling on his pack to focus on their own roles while simultaneously asking the same of referee Romain Poite:
“They were very successful in sacking the maul in the Six Nations especially. They stop it pretty well.
“We need to do our things right and hopefully the referee will be very strict on how to stop the maul. If we do our things right it’s easier for the refs to see if they are stopping the maul legally or not. It’s important for us to get our setup right, put in the hard work and just get it started. From there on it’s easier.”
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Having had his own dance with retirement, Matfield was asked about Ireland’s other world famous player. The 37-year-old expressed some mild South African amusement that Brian O’Driscoll had opted not to hang on an extra 15 months when a World Cup was on his doorstep.
“Brian’s been an outstanding player for Ireland. I thought it was very funny that he stopped a year before a World Cup. For me, it was all about Heyneke (Meyer) came to ask me if I think I can still make a difference come World Cup next year.
“I had to go sit down and think: ‘am I keen enough? Will I work hard enough to be in top form to hopefully make a difference at the World Cup next year?’
“Those are the decisions that went through my head. I think it made it easy for me [that] I’ve worked my whole career with my coaches – Heyneke, Pieter [De Villiers] and John McFarland – they were my mentors when I was a young player so having them as management is great.
“I still have great friends that I’ve played with here in the group, so my big motivation is still to be here next year at the World Cup and hopefully win a second World Cup.”
O'Connell 'the best I've played against in my career' - Victor Matfield
SOUTH AFRICA’S WORLD Cup-winning second row Victor Matfield is preparing to renew acquaintances with Paul O’Connell, a player he feels is the best he has come up against in his illustrious career.
The veteran duo are likely to lock horns again, 10 years after the two number fives first packed down against one another in Bloemfontein.
“I think he’s a fantastic player,” Matfield says of the Ireland captain, “he’s probably the best player I’ve played against in my career.
“He’s also a student of the line-out, he puts in a lot of hours analysing, preparing and getting his whole unit ready for the weekend. It’s always tough going up against him.”
Making the task even tougher, says Matfield in the team’s Stillorgan hotel, is the residual influence of Ireland’s former forwards coach.
“I always think when Gert Smal was here he gave a lot of insight into how I think about the line-out to Paul, so it makes it more difficult. It’s always a great battle against him and he’s got some great jumpers with him in that unit. So we know it’s going to be very tough. We’ll have to be accurate in what we do because they will definitely put pressure on us at line-out time.
The Springbok lock knows nothing will come easy at the Aviva Stadium, but is calling on his pack to focus on their own roles while simultaneously asking the same of referee Romain Poite:
“They were very successful in sacking the maul in the Six Nations especially. They stop it pretty well.
“We need to do our things right and hopefully the referee will be very strict on how to stop the maul. If we do our things right it’s easier for the refs to see if they are stopping the maul legally or not. It’s important for us to get our setup right, put in the hard work and just get it started. From there on it’s easier.”
Having had his own dance with retirement, Matfield was asked about Ireland’s other world famous player. The 37-year-old expressed some mild South African amusement that Brian O’Driscoll had opted not to hang on an extra 15 months when a World Cup was on his doorstep.
“I had to go sit down and think: ‘am I keen enough? Will I work hard enough to be in top form to hopefully make a difference at the World Cup next year?’
“Those are the decisions that went through my head. I think it made it easy for me [that] I’ve worked my whole career with my coaches – Heyneke, Pieter [De Villiers] and John McFarland – they were my mentors when I was a young player so having them as management is great.
“I still have great friends that I’ve played with here in the group, so my big motivation is still to be here next year at the World Cup and hopefully win a second World Cup.”
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November Internationals 2013 Ireland lock love Mutual respect November Tests Paul O'Connell second row first rate South Africa