Springbok lock Victor Matfield will not withdraw his legal action against the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu).
Matfield, who was sent home from the Springbok camp for a knee operation, but was found to be fit on arrival back in the country, will continue alongside his fellow Boks, Richard Bands, Christo Bezuidenhout and Dale Santon in waiting for a date at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to finalise the issue.
The Bok lock will turn out for the Blue Bulls this weekend, and will then be available for the Boks if he comes through the game unscathed, but there are already indications that he will not be needed after the debacle that has played itself out over the past week.
Matfield was alleged to have been sent home because of pressure being put on Bok coach, Jake White, by the Sarfu administration over the matter, something which the Bok camp have consistently denied.
But with the South African Rugby Players Association (Sarpa) representing the quartet of players’ interests, Matfield will go ahead with his action.
”We find it difficult because we have to pursue this route, where in Australia there is a private mediator between the Australian Rugby Union and their players representatives who could resolve this matter much more speedily,” Sarpa’s Piet Heymans said on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Bok management had tried to clarify the reports that Matfield was not as injured as Springbok doctor Yusuf Hassan had made him out to be.
”Victor Matfield was originally examined after first injuring his knee against Wales on June 26 and was referred to knee specialist Dr Daan du Plessis,” said SA Rugby Medical GM, Dr Ismail Jakoet in a statement earlier this week.
”Dr Du Plessis’ recommendation was that Victor be treated conservatively and that an operation was not necessary at that time. On the basis of this opinion, the Springbok management and selectors included Victor Matfield in the squad to tour Australasia. Victor was placed on a rehabilitation programme and after further assessment the Springbok team doctor and physio agreed that they were not satisfied with the progress and decided to send Victor for reassessment by Dr du Plessis in Pretoria,” said Dr Jakoet.
”Dr du Plessis’ opinion is that Victor Matfield is fit enough to play again. This has been communicated to the Springbok team doctor and management and they have accepted this opinion,” concluded Jakoet.
The Bok lock was selected for the Blue Bulls and will face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday. – Sapa