Big lock a beacon of optimism

Victor Matfield admits his attempt to prevent a try against the Wallabies backfired spectacularly. Chris McGrath / Getty Images

The All Black selectors were peddling a line this week that the Springboks were confined to their hotel rooms where they festered about the thrashing they took from the Wallabies in Brisbane.

It was an interesting concept but one which senior lock Victor Matfield dispelled with his own line of humour.

"I think we are taking it easy in the hotel rooms because it has not been easy out there on the training field," he said.

There had been no give-up in the Boks after the 49-0 loss in Brisbane, they had worked even harder in atrocious conditions this week in Wellington to get some cohesion and rhythm into their play.

"You can see how much they are trying in training," Matfield said of his teammates.

"We thought the intensity was good last week but you can see how much it has improved this week so we believe we can go well."

If the Springboks misjudged the demands the Wallabies placed on them, there is no question about what awaits them in Wellington tonight. Matfield, who is playing his 50th test, has yet to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.

"This will be very tough," he said with his wry wit. "We are playing against a much better side this time but we will go out there with all of our powers."

All that is available, anyway, as the South Africans try to make up for the absence of key forwards Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha.

Without that duo there was a lack of sting about the Boks' work in Brisbane. They were unable to dominate a Wallaby pack which had been overwhelmed, at scrumtime, the week before by the All Blacks.

And when Matfield was sinbinned for a professional foul, the Springboks shipped a further 10 points.

"I was in a situation where they would have scored if I hadn't gone there," he explained. "Maybe I was stupid but I took the risk hoping to get away with it but I think it was a yellow card."

Matfield leads the lineouts tonight against an All Black combination he thinks is stronger with the inclusion of Ali Williams and Reuben Thorne alongside Chris Jack.

But the Springboks will attack them and also intend to amp up their tight work.

"It is our strength, the scrum and lineout and that is where we have to take the game," Matfield said. "We have to try and throw the All Blacks out of their patterns."

They loved to counterattack from turnovers or loose ball and on the two occasions he had won with the Springboks at home against the All Blacks, they had denied the visitors the chance to run from broken play.

"We have to learn from that. It will be difficult but anything is possible. We have beaten them at home and if you did not believe in yourself it is not worth going out there," he said.

Matfield defended coach Jake White against the barrage of criticism he is receiving from politicians, former players, coaches and the media after the Brisbane debacle.

"In the past a lot of coaches would just lose it and he handled it well and he is motivating us and setting an example ... we believe we will get through it," said Matfield.

"It is tough when you play for the Springboks and lose like that.

"I don't think you need to read the papers to know how bad you are. You know it by yourself and you know you let the whole country down and that is the big disappointment for us."