Cape Town – Springbok captain Victor Matfield says the World XV team will be an unpredictable foe in their clash at Newlands on Saturday. “It is difficult to analyse a team that you have not seen before but we do know they have come here to play,” Matfield said in Cape Town on Wednesday.
“We also know that under Nick Mallett they won’t just throw the ball around. He will want them to go out and win the game. The way I see it is that they will be very dangerous from broken play.”
Matfield said coming up against countryman Juandre Kruger would be a difficult assignment.
“I think it is going to be one of the toughest lineouts for me because of Juandre Kruger.
“Luckily, I know what he thinks but we know how well he has come through at the lineouts. We know some of them (South African players in the World XV) have aspirations of playing for the Boks.”
It was vital for the Boks to impose themselves on the clash at setpiece time, he said.
“Then it is up to the backline to make good decisions. Whenever we get quick ball, we can be very dangerous. We want to continue where the Bok team ended last year.
“Everyone understands the playing systems, and everyone knows what they want to do.”
At the age of 37, Matfield would become the oldest Springbok captain to run out in the green and gold…
South Africa Today Sport – Sport News Rugby