News

Matfield meets with Bok coach

Monday 24th March 2008

Hands up if you want to be a Springbok: Matfield wants to come back

Springbok lock Victor Matfield will be available for the Springboks when Wales tour South Africa in June.

Matfield met with Bok coach Peter de Villiers on Saturday in a secret meeting to commit his future services to the national side, according to Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag.

The World Cup winning star reportedly made a whirlwind trip back to South Africa from France for the meeting.

It was widely believed that World Cup final's man of the match would not be available due to his contract with French Pro D2 club Toulon. Added to that he made comments implying that he would only return to South Africa to play under Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer.

With De Villiers getting the nod for the Bok job ahead of Meyer, Matfield's Bok career looked to be over.

The meeting took place at George airport, it is reported.

"We did meet," De Villiers confirmed to Sondag.

"Victor [Matfield] and I had a great chat and I can say that everything that was said in the past is not true and has been forgotten.

"Victor told me he moved to France for his future and because he was offered a lot of cash to go.

"He also said he longed to return to the country and play for a South African team and is currently negotiating to do so."

It seems De Villiers is making a concerted effort to keep some of the big names from South Africa's World Cup success in the picture. The meeting comes on the heals of De Villiers' recent trip to France where he met with John Smit shortly before re-appointing Smit as Bok Captain.

The meeting was brutally honest, according to De Villiers.

"Look, we were very honest with each other and we both asked some tough questions and received straight answers," added the Bok coach.

"But at the end of the meeting Victor committed himself to the Springboks again."

True to form, De Villiers reiterated that he could not make any promises.

"We spoke about his future and I'm happy we could have the meeting," said De Villiers.

"He asked for the meeting but I told him again that I could make him no promises.

"I am however very happy that he will be available for the Springboks.

"Victor was very excited when he left and we had a very fruitful discussion."