4. The imposing return of Victor Matfield
When we heard that a 36-year-old Matfield was returning to Super Rugby some of us thought that he would be a useful backup and he could step into the breach for the odd game when there was an injury.
Others wondered why the silly old bugger, who was already part of the Bulls coaching staff last year, chose to make a fool of himself returning to the playing group in a young man’s game after a three-year lay-off.
Those thoughts were put aside quickly because we saw something we didn’t expect. After playing the first two games from the bench he started in twelve games for the Bulls and was priceless as the lineout manager and the premier catcher.
Victor Matfield – was as imposing as ever
And he had no problem in contact or getting around the park either. The Brumbies will remember hs linebreak and dummy against them in Round 15.
He was especially valuable when Flip van der Merwe, his second row partner, was suspended for three weeks, and when he was injured at the end of the season.
Matfield was the Bulls best player in 2014 and won 73 lineouts in his 14 games. He pouched an average of 5.2 takes per game, which was 1.5 more than any other lineout jumper in the competition.
Moreover he proved his ability to play at the highest level because he was called into captain the Springboks in the June tests against Wales and Scotland.
Not bad for a silly old bugger.
