Victor Matfield believes the Springboks may have paid the price in November for the Bulls and Blue Bulls’ success earlier in the season.

The Springbok lock and captain of the champion Super14 and Currie Cup teams believes those triumphs drained his team-mates and they were not 100% when South Africa toured Europe.

“It was such a brilliant rugby season for everyone that I think the Bulls guys, in particular, were drained. To get through a Super14 semifinal and final, then beat the British and Irish Lions in a series, win the Tri-Nations by beating New Zealand and Australia on their home soil, and come back for a Currie Cup semifinal and final, was not easy,” said Matfield.

“Perhaps we could not get switched on for the Boks again.”

The 33-year-old lock, who is on course to play his 100th Super14 game and Test this year, gave the assurance that the Bulls’ batteries would be recharged for 2010.

“We prepared well again and things are quite settled. The first few weeks of the Super14 are always difficult, but I’m confident that we can kick off well,” said Matfield.

The Bulls won their first five games last season and finished the league phase with 10 victories. They are aiming for a similar feat this time.

“We have adapted a little and will try a few new things. I was quite pleased with our training game against the Lions because things went well. We have a few more aces up our sleeves that we are keeping for the competition,” said Matfield.

He said some of the experiments of 2009 would be repeated.

“Last season we only left late for the overseas tour and beat the Hurricanes that Saturday. That gave the tour momentum. We will do it again this year. Fortunately our first tour game will be in Perth, which means that it’s just a short flight. This will make the time away from home even shorter.”

The Bulls achieved a number of milestones last year.

Matfield does not believe they will struggle again as they did in 2008 after their first Super14 title win.

“So much experience has been gained that it will simply not happen again. Remember too that things were not going very well at the start of that year.”

Matfield was a picture of consternation when Test referee Craig Joubert discussed the new application of the laws at the breakdown with the Bulls on Wednesday.

“The Bulls have high standards and we want to keep it up there. We’re a proud bunch and want to achieve things together. That is why it’s so easy to captain these guys.”

NEWS24