Matfield: Smit speech lifted Springboks

The South African team hailed the influence of John Smit after their historic 30-28 victory against New Zealand today.

A late Ricky Januarie try and a conversion by Francois Steyn got the Springboks home in a thrilling game as they enjoyed their first win at Carisbrook and ended a 10-year winless streak on New Zealand soil.

They did so without regular captain Smit, who was back home in South Africa nursing a groin injury suffered in the previous weekend’s loss, but stand-in captain Victor Matfield said the World Cup-winning skipper had been with the Springboks in spirit.

“I’ve always said that a captain is much more than what you do on the field and he helped us put a lot of things in place in the last four or five weeks and that’s what carried us through and helped us at the end, the things he left behind,” Matfield said.

“He left us a great speech before the game and I think that really lifted the guys. He’s part of this win just as much as we are.”

Jean de Villiers, who took over the captaincy duties when Matfield was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Sione Lauaki with seven minutes to go, jokingly suggested that, as he was captain when the final whistle went, he was the first skipper to enjoy success at Carisbrook after seven previous losses at the venue.

But he also paid tribute to the contribution made by Smit: “I’m sure he is enjoying a cup of coffee back home and rehabilitating. He’s just as pleased that we won but disappointed that he can’t be here.

“He’s with us in spirit and played a major role in what we achieved.”

Matfield admitted to a few nervous moments when he was sent to the sideline with New Zealand 25-23 ahead, especially after coming within four points at the same venue three years ago.

“I felt (worried) and I felt disappointed but luckily we had players there, Jean there, who was a great captain, and he got the guys to stick to the gameplan.

“We showed great character and we came through.”

New Zealand coach Graham Henry also praised the character of his side for their contribution to another gripping Test match.

“They are disappointed. You are always disappointed when you lose a Test match and our guys are no different,” he said.

“But they should feel proud of what they did. This team has won 30 consecutive Test matches at home over a five-year period and at some stage you are going to get beaten.

“We got beaten tonight by a side that was very experienced and played well. You have just got to take that on the chin and hope that you learn from that experience and get better.”

Losing lock Ali Williams in the 29th minute was a big blow to a side already short on experience and missing captain Richie McCaw.

But forwards coach Steve Hansen had nothing but praise for the way young locks Anthony Boric, in his run-on debut, and Kevin O’Neill, making in his first All Blacks appearance, competed against hardened veterans Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

“It’s a big challenge when you haven’t played a lot of Test matches,” he said. “I’m very proud of both those young men. They plugged their hearts out and on the day we just weren’t good enough to win the test match.

“But I think they will grow from the experience and the pain they are feeling from the loss they will take that with them and it will make them better players.”