Matfield factor aids broken Bulls
Return from retirement came at right time as injuries mount
IT TOOK only one match on tour for the Bulls to get veteran Victor Matfield back into the team’s starting XV.
Ahead of their trip to Australasia last week, Bulls coach Frans Ludeke indicated that the 36-year-old former Bulls and Springbok captain would only be used in a dire injury situation while travelling in his capacity as coach.
Injury hit the Bulls early, with them losing both their first-choice flankers Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann in the first match on the road – a 20-25 defeat to the Hurricanes on Saturday.
The Bulls face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday, and Matfield is among four changes Ludeke has made to his starting lineup. The lock will don the number five jersey worn by captain Flip van der Merwe last week. The captain will switch to lock as Paul Willemse makes the bench.
With the continuing injury plague in the loose-forwards, Jono Ross makes his way back into the side at flank, partnering Jacques du Plessis, who is promoted from the bench to blindside; while Grant Hattingh will start at number eight as Jacques Engelbrecht goes to the bench.
“We opted for Victor because Grant [Hattingh] gives us the loose-forward option. We also believe they [Van der Merwe and Matfield] form a winning combination – they know each other.
“They have a lot of experience between them. And we think they’ll be able to put a bit more pressure on the opposition ball,” Ludeke said on bringing the veteran lock back.
Since his return from retirement, Matfield has played a major role in the side’s change of fortunes from the early stages of the Super 15, which has seen them winning three and drawing one of their seven matches played so far.
With injuries coming thick and fast, Ludeke is left with a dilemma in his management of the ageing star whom the coach had not intended to feature too often. “All the players enjoy playing with Victor, he’s an experienced player. It’s a tough situation at the moment. We will be sensible in how we manage him,” Ludeke said yesterday.
The coach is also aware of how much of an impact having the 36-year-old available on tour will be for the side.
“It’s important for us to get back to winning ways – it’s vital for us to make sure we secure our setpieces and apply pressure on opposition ball. From there on we can build an innings,” he said.
With the injuries to Stegmann and Potgieter, the Bulls are also left without a specialist openside flanker. Ludeke believes in Ross they have a capable replacement to fulfil the role. “We need to work around that,” said Ludeke.
Ross has played in the position before for the Bulls, just like he has filled in at blindside and at number eight.
“We back Jono, he does the job for us. Last weekend, the balls we lost in contact was not because we did not have an opensider. We made five turnovers at the breakdown,” the coach said. “[An openside flank] definitely has a huge impact at the breakdown and we did not turn the ball over there. That’s a team effort though.
“There are a lot of other players that we are banking on that can make turnovers at the breakdown and making smart decisions there. We as a team need to take responsibility for securing the ball at the breakdown and making turnovers.”