Matthews is a huge Elton fan

Centre Duncan Matthews (above) admits he fell just short of going into full admiration mode when he played for the first time with the Lions’ playmaker Elton Jantjies.

According to Matthews, the experience offered by Jantjies and wing Courtnall Skosan would be invaluable in the Super Rugby season, which was set to kick off next weekend.

“It was actually my first time playing with Elton during the Super Hero Sunday (warm-up match last week) and I wouldn’t say I was star-struck, but a bit in awe with the composure he shows,” said 25-year-old Matthews, who joined the Lions from the Bulls last year as a winger.

“He is a guy that controlled the whole game. The whole time this guy knew what was going on.

“He dictates the whole gameplan and takes a big load off your shoulders.”

As a centre, Matthews felt less pressure with the calibre of teammates surrounding him.

“The same with Courtnall. He was in my ear the whole time,” Matthews said.

“I struggled a bit with my fitness after those two long runs, but Courtnall kept saying ‘just fight through this and it will get better’, so the experience of those two guys was phenomenal.”

The will shown by each player to give their best as part of a unit, Matthews felt, had ensured the Lions stamped their authority as one of the best teams in the country over the last four years.

“These guys are hungry and they want to prove something, so it’s exactly the same situation now as it was a few years back,” he said.

“I haven’t really focused on the kind of opposition I might be facing.

“You basically just focus on yourself for now, and the team, and if you start thinking about other players you’ll start losing your mind.”

Ahead of their departure to Buenos Aires for their Super Rugby opener against the Jaguares, Matthews said they were aware they would be coming up against the international elite.

“So, for me it’s just about being the best I can be in terms of fitness, defence and attack, just getting the best out of myself,” he said.

“I’m more comfortable at No 13 for now (rather than wing). I enjoy it a lot. “If I have to move to 15,14 or 12 I’ll give it my best there as well.”