Alun Wyn can prove his doubters wrong, like I did – Matfield

VICTOR Matfield knows what it’s like to have your age questioned on the eve of a Lions series.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

Matfield, one of the greatest lock forwards to have played the game, carried on until the 2015 World Cup aged 38, but six years before that he had to prove doubters wrong when he helped his South African team to a 2-1 series victory over the Lions.

Critics in South Africa doubt whether Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones, 35, still has mileage left on the clock.

But Matfield, who faced Jones 12 times over the course of a 127-cap Test career says world rugby’s most capped player on 157 has lost none of his powers.

“I think it was a great call making him the captain,” Matfield told The Rugby Paper. “There was a lot of talk about Maro Itoje being captain, but he hasn’t been a regular captain for England. Alun Wyn is still playing great rugby and he brings a lot to the pack.

“Getting the group together, having the same vision, and being one team is probably the most important thing for the Lions and I think Alun Wyn is the perfect captain to do that. I think he’ll start the Test matches alongside Itoje, with Courtney Lawes coming off the bench.