All Blacks: Veteran forward asks team to dig deeper

Veteran Springboks rugby lock Victor Matfield has called on a significant lift on their performance against the Lions if they are to beat the All Blacks.

Matfield described Tri-Nations tests against New Zealand as the pinnacle for any top South African player.

"I come out in goose-bumps just when I think about the haka, I don't even have to be facing it, and for any Springbok they are the opponents you most want to play against and most want to beat," the 32-year-old vice-captain said yesterday.

A chance to play against the Lions was one of the big motivating factors in keeping Matfield involved with the national team after their 2007 World Cup triumph. However, it wasn't because they are the toughest international nut to crack.

"What made the Lions series special was the fact that we only play them once in every 12 years. You only get to play them once in your career, so you want to beat them when you do," Matfield said. "But we all know that the level of play will lift now for we are going into the Tri-Nations, which is the toughest competition in the world. New Zealand and Australia are the two top teams ... . to be No 1 they are the teams that you have to beat."

Matfield, who will play his 84th test, suspected the All Blacks' short turnaround since beating Australia at Eden Park could hurt them.

"It is tough to fly out to South Africa and play so soon after, but I think it is more the altitude that is going to be tough for them," he said. "The All Blacks have ... scored some good wins on the Highveld, but altitude is a factor and we must look to put them under pressure and keep them under pressure."

He denied that he was looking to either hang up his boots soon or seek a rich European club pension.

"In my eight years of playing for the Boks I have won only one Tri-Nations title, so it would be nice to get another. And I wouldn't mind a few more Super 14 medals and hopefully a second World Cup title."

- NZPA