Matfield Return For The Boks

South Africa will use their final Pool D match against Samoa as chance to give Victor Matfield a chance to get some minutes under his belt, following the second-rower’s return to action after injury. The experienced lock has been struggling with a hamstring strain, which ruled him out of action for South Africa’s last two matches. Matfield will now return to the Springboks’ first-team, after long-term second-row partner Bakkies Botha was ruled out of the match with his own injury.

Matfield, who will skipper the side against the Samoans, is one of seven changes made by Peter de Villiers from the side that smashed 87 points past a hapless Namibia team last week, with the most notable being that of regular captain John Smit. The veteran hooker drops to the bench with Bismarck du Plessis stepping in for his first start of the tournament. Those looking at the Betfair rugby union odds should remember this.

The move to start du Plessis at hooker in place of Smit, is one which many in South Africa have been calling for since the start of the year. The influential Smit may be a great captain for the Springboks but du Plessis has shown himself to be one of the world’s most effective number twos. The younger of the du Plessis brothers will line up alongside his older sibling, Jannie, in a front-row completed by the returning Tendai Mtawarira.

Heinrich Brussow is given a chance to impress in the back-row after being given the nod by de Villiers, who also hands starts to winger JP Pietersen and scrum-half Fourie du Preez along the back-line. Head coach de Villiers has, for the first time so far in the tournament, been able to pick his starting XV from a squad carrying only one injured player, Botha. Those following the Rugby Union betting odds should bear this in mind.

The Springboks will be well aware of the threat carried by the Pacific Islanders, but de Villiers has admitted having Matfield back in the side will be a major boost.

“It is the first time since our first game that we have the privilege to select the team from 29 fit players.,” he said.

“Having Victor back in the lineout, that can be a great contest now. He understands the systems and he inspires people around him.”