Matfield cleared
22 Feb 2010
Victor Matfield has been found not guilty of foul play in their match against the Brumbies.
The Bulls captain was cited under Law 10.4 (a) for striking Brumbies flanker Rocky Elsom around the head area in the 16th minute of the match. The Springbok lock was also cited under Law 10.4 (k) for charging into a ruck without binding onto another player.
If found guilty Matfield faced at least a one match suspension, but the verdict clears him to front the Waratahs at Loftus on Saturday.
There was more good news for the Bulls when it was revealed that Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw will be available for selection.
Rossouw missed the Brumbies match with neck spasms, while scans have shown no structural damage to Spies’ knee, which he injured on Saturday. Spies won’t train with the team until Friday, while Rossouw is on light duty throughout the week.
Keo.co.za reported on Sunday that loose forward Dewald Potgieter has recovered from a knee injury and will be available for selection.
Centre Jaco Pretorius (quad strain) will miss the match, but is expected to be fit for their clash with the Highlanders on 13th March (the Bulls have a bye next week).
Rossouw and Potgieter are likely to be thrust straight into the run-on side in place of Flip van der Merwe and Pedrie Wannenberg respectively. Stephan Dippenaar will continue at outside centre in Pretorius’ absence.
Coach Frans Ludeke is now faced with a selection poser on the bench. He’ll have to decide whether to include Van der Merwe, who performed brilliantly against the Brumbies, at the expense of Wannenberg, or whether to axe the young lock in favour of the 100-cap veteran.
Both players could be accommodated if he opts to exclude Derick Kuün, although his dynamism off the bench has served the Bulls well to date.
Bulls (likely) - 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Pedrie Wannenburg/Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün/Pedrie Wannenberg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 John Mametsa.
189 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All
23 Feb 2010, 03:48 am
@Hurricane:
Shame, you seem to think teams can’t improve. Cheetahs were Currie Cup finalists and have plenty of talent in Mapoe, Brussow, Smith, front row, Nokwe, Olivier and Viljoen.
The Bulls haven’t allowed a team to score a bonus point try against them by the way… so this myth that they have bad defense is utter rubbish.
23 Feb 2010, 04:58 am
lets see how their opposition go when they dont have to contend with the rarefied air at places like Loftus, a distinct advantage to the bulls…
lets see them do the same thing to teams at sea-level.. because lets face it, none of the anzac sides train at high altitude… an overwhelming advantage, but the way some talk, seems the bulls have it wrapped up already…
23 Feb 2010, 06:05 am
@poppa69:
Yeah popps, but what about your travel advantage hey? I’ll ignor the travel if you ignor the “highveld”. An excuse is an excuse is an excuse me thinks ?
23 Feb 2010, 06:35 am
@whatever: One would have thought by now, any excuse to travel would be grabbed with both hands.
Travel takes its toll on all teams no doubt. Altitude is definitely an entirely different story. Ask any athlete that has had the opportunity to do so
23 Feb 2010, 06:37 am
Train at altitude that is. A prerequisite for most swimmers.
23 Feb 2010, 08:42 am
@whatever: yeah, the point was the Bulls have over-run teams as they tire from altitude, no excuse, just fact
…if they can still do it at sea-level then they deserve all the plaudits..
23 Feb 2010, 09:41 am
Where is Skopskiet?
23 Feb 2010, 10:55 am
@Kobus Kitty: @147
WTF are you on about, KKK ?
trying to make out Ive got a ‘Bulls thing’ now ?
all your other piegonholes full now, are they ?!
there are enough of your locals here that hate the Bulls, take it up with them.
23 Feb 2010, 11:03 am
WHAT’S THIS………”Victor the Mad Bully Boy cleared”.
Surely not. The whole friggen world saw it.
What is it with you lot in the Republic of Eye Gougers. Blind as well……come on now.
23 Feb 2010, 11:11 am
@Aus_Rebel: Post 149.
A word of caution Aussie Reb. To jab a stick at Skoppie, is like kicking a grizzly bear in the arse.
It feels good straight off. Quite daring actually………….but there are usually repercussions sooner than later.
23 Feb 2010, 11:12 am
@cane: mr cane, need I remind you that the whole world saw 2 men in black try to cripple that great paddy Brian O’Driscoll.
23 Feb 2010, 11:24 am
@Black Panther:
You do realize you’re named after a racially driven group, so calling me “KKK” just because I have an Afrikaans name proves you aren’t named after the animal.
@cane:
What the whole world saw was Rocky Elsom attacking an off balance Stegman at the ruck, pushing his hand into his eye/nose area and then pressing his forearm upon his throat. Matfield saved Stegman and should be rewarded for his efforts. Elsom should have been cited.
Just a note, see how CANE (a KIWI) comes to the aid of his Australian brothers? Its called ANZAC spirit and its what the South African teams are always up against.
23 Feb 2010, 11:27 am
Blue Thugs!
23 Feb 2010, 11:33 am
@RedLion:
Here is a little challenge for you RL.
Find footage of the incident. (BOD tackled by Sts Tana and Kevin.)
No match footage exists. That is why the Saffa Citing Official stated there was no case to answer.
So……..In short, “The Whole World did not see Bod get nailed”.
23 Feb 2010, 11:37 am
@Kobus Kitty:
So Kobe…………..Victor is now Captain, Law Enforcer, Judge and Jury. And of Course above the Laws that govern the game for lesser mortals.
Did he, or did he not strike St Rocky?
23 Feb 2010, 11:37 am
@cane:
I give you the smoking gun.
youtube.com/watch?v=daTU2nAcJGo
23 Feb 2010, 11:44 am
@RedLion: here is another kiwi guilty of spear tackling. This time he tried to end Smitty.
youtube.com/watch?v=GZchPz1xQII
23 Feb 2010, 11:46 am
and here the victim Smitty speaks about his ordeal
youtube.com/watch?v=Zuk5YwuWYx8&feature=fvw
23 Feb 2010, 11:48 am
I love this video too … poor BOD
youtube.com/watch?v=OsXJyDHFKn0
23 Feb 2010, 11:57 am
@RedLion: Post 167.
Is that the one where Thorn drops Lardarse for kneeing him in the back.
Brad should have been yellowed I agree. But Smitty should be ashamed to call himself a man. He should have accepted Brads apology made later in the match. But Oh no Smitty whined like a stuck pig for weeks.
Smit even had the gall to blame his groin injury on the incident.
And you Mothers are still whining years later. And will continue too for years to come no doubt.
23 Feb 2010, 12:09 pm
@RedLion: Where does Smit speak about the ordeal when he crushed French captain’s Thion’s larynx with his elbow, eh?
23 Feb 2010, 12:14 pm
@cane: You are Ill informed!Read smit’s book, he never blamed BT for his groin injury….. media did that all by himself….. futhermore when Brad came to apologise, Smit said “no need to, I started it, you finished it”
23 Feb 2010, 12:15 pm
himself = itself
23 Feb 2010, 12:19 pm
Brad Thorn is probably in his last year of Pro Rugby.
There has been no greater ambasssador of fair but hard play, than Brad. For 15 years.
Hard, humble, committed, and a true sportsman. Ask anyone in Queensland or NZ. (But don’t bother your arrse asking a Saffa).
23 Feb 2010, 12:24 pm
@Tisme:
I am humbled by your post Tissie.
Perhaps I may have to re-evaulate my opinion of Mr Smit.
(The interviews I saw told a different story.)
23 Feb 2010, 12:31 pm
@cane: Howzit Cane, Yip Tisme’s post 172 is correct. In Smits book he said that to Thorn. He never blamed Thorn on his groin injury.
How you Cannie? hope well. Your Canes doing well so far hey!! Big one coming up against the Bulls soon.
My Sharks just not doing it so far this season.
23 Feb 2010, 12:32 pm
@cane: I know he is not your favourite, but read his book…. you will find great insight in other players aswell
23 Feb 2010, 12:46 pm
@Puma:
I thank both you and Tisme for your posts. And for what it worth, I have always thought Smit a great Capt. But NOT the best in either position the SA Selectors place him.
SA has a vast array of talent, managing this talent is a tall order.
23 Feb 2010, 12:53 pm
@cane: now that I have changed your preception of Smit, may I suggest you support a real rugby team like…….THE BULLS !!!!
23 Feb 2010, 12:58 pm
@Kobus Kitty: @162
thanks for the history lesson, KKK, but dont waste your breath. Waka Nathan was also known as the ‘Black Panther’. Deal with it, move on. Just like Gunther did.
@RedLion: @167
Smit had his lardy-butt dropped, not driven down. Once St Brad dropped him, he had no control, not a hand on him as Smit fell.
Smit then played the innocent-vitim but he was anything butt, he should have left it there but did not. However, after last years armband disgrace, we see that it most clearly was not in him to leave things on the pitch.
There was also a subsequent ruse to say Thorn caused Smits injuury thereafter. He did not. Smit was with Clermont leading in to that match and had been nursed thru many games due to that injury. Ledesma had been starting, Smit was benching.
@cane:
In person, Smit is a real gentleman, of that I can vouch for. Its his supporters that have the real problem.
23 Feb 2010, 12:59 pm
@Tisme:
While the Bully Boys demand great respect Tissie……………Some things a Caanite cannot do.
And besides…..that arse-hole Bakkies plays for them.
23 Feb 2010, 13:00 pm
@cane:
Does Brad Thorn ever make the advantage line? He has the “hard man” look but all in all I think he’s a man who is too small to be a world class lock and too slow/not strong enough to be a world class flank. What do you do with someone like that?
As soon as he came on against the reds, the reds ran away with the game.
23 Feb 2010, 13:09 pm
@Tisme: 179.
I was born in a cross-fire Hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain,
I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a Cane right across my back,
But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas!
Go Da Canes!
(Thanks to Mick and Keith).
23 Feb 2010, 13:20 pm
@Kobus Kitty:
Brads record against SA.
Played 8.
Won 5.
Lost 3
That kind of average will do me just fine.
23 Feb 2010, 13:38 pm
@Black Panther: Post 180.
Thank you for your enlightenment BP.
23 Feb 2010, 20:15 pm
Matfield kan gelukkig wees, was hy in NZ or Ozzzzzz, sou hy ‘n paar weke gekry het. Seker was die Voorsittende beampte’ ‘n Bulls fan.
Victor was nie naby die bal nie, en het betrokke geraak by twee spelers wat aan mekaar was, met ‘n voorarm teen die kop.
Reg of verkeerd, geen speler sal toelaat dat ‘n ander span een van sy manne boelie nie. hy moes maar eerder soos Brussow gemaak het en Elsom se JOCKY oor sy ore getrek het!
23 Feb 2010, 22:38 pm
@CP:
thanks for that, C3PO
24 Feb 2010, 04:29 am
@CP:
And here it is in English
“Matfield says hello to NZ and OZ,he is and always will be n Bulls fan
Victor was nine when he first noticed he had talent as a rugby player.
Reg his father also noticed this. Meanwhile the street bully Brussow met a guy named Elsom the ROCKY and they became good friends.”
What do you all reckon,my Afrikaans to English pretty much spot on
24 Feb 2010, 10:48 am
@Hurricane
LOL!
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.