Matfield roars into Lions den
Former Springbok lock confirmed as the team’s Currie Cup forwards coach.
Former Springbok lock Victor Matfield is hoping it’s the start of a long relationship with the Lions after he was yesterday confirmed as their new Currie Cup forward coach.
While he played the majority of his rugby for the Bulls and was also a former coach at Loftus, he said new Lions head coach Swys de Bruin played a crucial role in his coming on board.
“I must say it’s almost déjà vu, still remember being a 21-year-old getting a call from Swys to come and join him at Griquas in 1999 – having all the respect playing against him as a Under-21 coach back then,” said Matfield yesterday.
The 127-Test Springbok said it all happened quite quickly and at this stage he will only be a consultant, because of other business interests, coming in two days a week and then of course also on match days.
“So when Swys called me again to say come and look about joining us it just felt right, I also think the culture here at the Lions is fantastic to walk into,” he said.
“And for me as a young coach now, at last I’m young again, I think I can just come and learn a lot, the Lions achieved quite a lot over the last few years and hopefully I can add a little bit on what they’re already doing.”
Matfield said it was not a case of changing alliances after winning three Currie Cups and three Super Rugby titles with the Bulls. “I have probably been divorced from the Bulls for about two years now. This is just the next step in the right direction,” he said.
“I have been with the Bulls for years and I will always have a special place in my heart for them, but I am a young and new coach and it’s a new opportunity.”
Matfield and the Lions will review his position after the Currie Cup, but said they are really hoping to make it an extended run.
“I’m just consulting for now and hopefully there’s a future after the Currie Cup and we’ll have to see how it develops,” he said yesterday.
New Golden Lions head coach Swys de Bruin said they will start from scratch in the remainder of the Currie Cup ahead of this weekend’s clash against the Sharks at Ellis Park.
Because of his connection in Super Rugby, this weekend will be De Bruin’s first involvement with the Currie Cup side.
“The Currie Cup is still very important for us, we are taking it seriously and on Monday turned the clock back to zero,” he said.
De Bruin will start a new era for Lions rugby and has picked a powerful starting side.
However, only five bench players in props Corne Fourie and Johannes Jonker, flank Cyle Brink, centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg and fullback Sylvian Mahuza played a role in last weekend’s Super Rugby final.
“It’s a new management and some new players,” De Bruin said. “We have to use the opportunity to develop new future stars, but you want consistency.”
The management De Bruin is referring to is the appointment of Victor Matfield as forward coach, JP Ferreira as attack coach – he was previously defence coach – while Under-19 coach Joey Mongalo is the new defence coach.
Ivan van Rooyen stays on as conditioning coach.
While the Lions have lost two of their first three matches, De Bruin said it effectively starts for them this weekend, with former Bok and Sharks No 8 Ryan Kankowski retained as skipper.
“Ryan is a great stand-in guy and I was fortunate to coach him three or four years at the Sharks,” said De Bruin.
“When all the other guys come back, like Jacques van Rooyen, Kwagga Smith and all those guys, we will make a calculated call.
“But at the moment I have enough respect for him and with his experience and Victor knows him well too so there’s continuity and he has done well for us up to now.”
Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli said they haven’t officially released No 8 Ruan Ackermann to Gloucester where his dad Johan is now head coach after his tenure at the Lions came to an end.
“There’s been a request from Ruan to be released, so we’re looking into it,” he said.