Rugby: Lineout king leaps into AB's heads

Springbok Victor Matfield wins yet another lineout. Photo / Getty Images

The lineout mind games have started, with Springboks maestro Victor Matfield wondering aloud whether New Zealand's forwards will press the self-destruct button again in tomorrow's Tri-Nations rugby test.

The man who sends tremors through most international lineouts was at his influential best in both of the All Blacks' Tri-Nations losses in South Africa this year.

His psychological hold on opponents is as lethal as his set piece prowess and he played on that today, suggesting the All Blacks blundered with the basics in Bloemfontein and Durban.

"I think sometimes it's nice to go out there and you actually don't do anything and they get it wrong," he said.

"Hopefully they will get it wrong a few times on Saturday and hopefully we can get it right and put them under pressure a few times. It will all add up."

New Zealand forward coach Steve Hansen tried to play the Matfield factor down this week, saying the 88-test veteran should be regarded as just another player.

However, that message clearly didn't reach hooker Andrew Hore, whose throwing has been mixed this year, although he showed signs of improvement when the New Zealanders kept things simple in last month's one-point defeat of Australia in Sydney.

Hore said Matfield was a different kettle of fish to the Wallabies.

"He's pretty special when he moves around. I suppose once you've lost a few lineouts, you start thinking he's God as well," Hore said.

"You can get a bit carried away with one man but he has put a little bit of pressure on in the last few years."

That is precisely the sort of talk Matfield and his tall cohorts will revel in.

"It will be nice if they worry a little bit. It's one area that we really look at to target them and put them under pressure. Hopefully we can do it again. I think we got great returns back in South Africa," he said.

"But they've had a few weeks to prepare and also had two weeks now to look at us against the Aussies so they will definitely be better prepared."

Meanwhile, Matfield is proud of the milestone he will achieve tomorrow, playing the most tests by any Springboks player against the All Blacks.

His 20th test will move him one clear of fellow lock Mark Andrews and fullback Percy Montgomery.

"It's just awesome to think I was a little guy wishing one day I'd be at a stadium to watch the All Blacks do a haka and now to face it 20-odd times is just amazing," he said.

"Every time you run out there facing the haka playing the All Blacks it's just very special. It will be very special tomorrow night and if we win even more special, and hopefully we can do that."

The 32-year-old will be just one test short of the 21 tests played against New Zealand by former Australian captain John Eales, the most by any lock.

Matfield's 35th Tri-Nations test lifts him level with the most prolific New Zealander, former halfback Justin Marshall, although both are well short of the 48 played by tournament record holder George Gregan, the former Wallabies skipper.

- NZPA