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Matfield to talk to new coach
10/01/2008 22:08 - (SA)
Morris Gilbert , Beeld
Pretoria - New Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers deserves a fair chance to prove himself, says Victor Matfield, the 2007 rugby World Cup player of the tournament.
The star lock forward, now playing club rugby in France, said from Toulon on Thursday that he would like to discuss his future involvement in Springbok rugby with De Villiers within the next week or so.
"I feel it is important for my future that Peter and I have a chat so that we know where we stand with each other.
"The fact that I am continuing my career in France does not mean I have lost the desire to play for the Springboks," Matfield said.
"I'd like to negotiate a future in the green and gold for myself because I'd dearly love to play against the British and Irish Lions next year."
As Bulls captain, Matfield has had a strong relationship with Heyneke Meyer, the man who narrowly lost to De Villiers in the race for the coaching position.
He would certainly have preferred Meyer to succeed Jake White as coach but he still wants to achieve one of his remaining ideals, namely to play for South Africa in a series against the Lions.
Matfield yearns for Loftus
Speaking about his first match for Toulon, the line-out maestro said he spent only about ten minutes on the field but the home crowd gave him a great ovation.
"The stadium has a capacity of only about 10 000 but it was packed. All the tickets for Toulon's home matches this year were sold out last year.
"This is remarkable because Toulon play in the French second league. To see it in perspective, one has to compare the attendance with the number of spectators at the Currie Cup first-division matches last season," Matfield explained.
"The people here are looking after me and my family extremely well. The language remains a problem and it will probably take a while before we'll be able to speak French.
"My little daughter will probably manage to do so first because she will be going to nursery school soon. Her teacher can at least speak a little English.
"My wife quickly adapted to local circumstances and we are enjoying life here. But my heart yearns for Loftus Versfeld. I'm missing the Bulls a lot," Matfield said.
- Beeld
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