CHUMANI BAMBANI
Three-time Super Rugby-winning captain Victor Matfield sees some similarities between this year’s finalists‚ the Lions‚ and the Bulls side he led to the title in 2007‚ 2009 and 2010.
The Bulls and Springbok legend was at the helm during the Pretoria side’s golden era in the competition when they clinched an SA record three titles – one under former coach Heyneke Meyer and two with Frans Ludeke in the coaching seat.
Matfield was there when Meyer built the Bulls team from the ground‚ after having been the whipping boys of the competition‚ and transformed the side into a championship-winning outfit.
With the Lions having been out in the Super Rugby wilderness in 2013 when they were booted out to make way for the Southern Kings before having to fight back through a promotion playoff‚ the former Bulls captain sees a lot of the Bulls side from that era in the current Lions team that will play the Hurricanes in the final.
“The nice thing about the Bulls team that won those titles is that it was built over four years to get to where they ended as champions. The Lions have gone down the same path‚” Matfield told the Daily Dispatch yesterday.
The spirit in the team is something else that Matfield believes led to their success in those three years they lifted the Super Rugby trophy.
He believes the Lions team has the same identity.
“Our team back then was built around a strong team culture‚” the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok lock said.
“They play for each other and give everything they have got for one another. They are a very close unit and are not scared of anything. Hopefully they can continue like that in the final and make the whole of South Africa proud.”
The final kicks off at 9.35am at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The former Bok captain believes the whole country will be behind the team in the hope that the Lions will be the first team since the 2010 Bulls side to lift the Super Rugby trophy.
“They will have great confidence going into the match‚ given the great brand of rugby they have been playing,” said Matfield. “I do think that they have what it takes to upset the Hurricanes.” — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Lions have passion to overcome Hurricanes
Three-time Super Rugby-winning captain Victor Matfield sees some similarities between this year’s finalists‚ the Lions‚ and the Bulls side he led to the title in 2007‚ 2009 and 2010.
The Bulls and Springbok legend was at the helm during the Pretoria side’s golden era in the competition when they clinched an SA record three titles – one under former coach Heyneke Meyer and two with Frans Ludeke in the coaching seat.
Matfield was there when Meyer built the Bulls team from the ground‚ after having been the whipping boys of the competition‚ and transformed the side into a championship-winning outfit.
With the Lions having been out in the Super Rugby wilderness in 2013 when they were booted out to make way for the Southern Kings before having to fight back through a promotion playoff‚ the former Bulls captain sees a lot of the Bulls side from that era in the current Lions team that will play the Hurricanes in the final.
“The nice thing about the Bulls team that won those titles is that it was built over four years to get to where they ended as champions. The Lions have gone down the same path‚” Matfield told the Daily Dispatch yesterday.
The spirit in the team is something else that Matfield believes led to their success in those three years they lifted the Super Rugby trophy.
He believes the Lions team has the same identity.
“Our team back then was built around a strong team culture‚” the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok lock said.
“They play for each other and give everything they have got for one another. They are a very close unit and are not scared of anything. Hopefully they can continue like that in the final and make the whole of South Africa proud.”
The final kicks off at 9.35am at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The former Bok captain believes the whole country will be behind the team in the hope that the Lions will be the first team since the 2010 Bulls side to lift the Super Rugby trophy.
“They will have great confidence going into the match‚ given the great brand of rugby they have been playing,” said Matfield. “I do think that they have what it takes to upset the Hurricanes.” — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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