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Chris Boyd praises 'goal-kicking' Sam Matavesi's Northampton impact

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Chris Boyd has paid a fulsome tribute to the impact Sam Matavesi is making at Northampton with the live-wire hooker having a key role in the 44-8 thumping win over Newcastle and the director of rugby claims the Fijian is the club’s “ second best goal kicker” behind Dan Biggar.

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Boyd, who the Mail on Sunday speculates is to return to New Zealand at the end of the season and will then act as a long-distance consultant, is a big fan of Matavesi who has become an integral part of the Saints and Fijian packs.

Boyd, who joined the club in 2018, has been able to rely on Matavesi’s consistently impressive form during a season of fluctuating fortunes for Northampton who are currently fifth in the Premiership and will be home to Ulster in the Heineken Champions Cup on Sunday.

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Matavesi, who has won 18 caps and turns 30 on Thursday, can also play as a no.8 and arrived at Franklin’s Gardens from Championship outfit Cornish Pirates after playing in all four of Fiji’s pool games at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. His brother Josh won 24 caps for Fiji and is currently in Japan while his other brother Joel is at Newcastle.

The Matavesi boys were all born in Cornwall where their family was based and Boyd said: “Sam is probably our second best goal kicker as well so there is not much he cannot do. He can kick goals, kick drop goals and is very skilful He is a top fellow and is unbelievably energetic and the only Cornishman in the Fiji team and is a great asset who can seriously play.”

Boyd expects to make changes for the Ulster game and will have a big call to make over his half backs with Wales outside half Biggar and England scrum half Alex Mitchell becoming vital to the team’s fortunes.

Biggar scored 17 points at Newcastle and Boyd added: “ I don’t know if you call it rest, regeneration or rotation. We have some guys who have played six or eight games in a row. Dan and Alex have played together a lot now. It was a big loss for us when Cobus Reinach went to France but we knew Alex was a quality player and would step up and do well. He is a very good footballer.”

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3 Comments
J
Jaybarrett 1026 days ago

If he's the second best goal kicker behind Dan Biggar,So why not he could play at 10 for Fiji cause Fiji don't have decent flyhalf,Volavola is struggled at game time for Racing.Sam has some skillsful play and footwork aswell.

L
Leon 1027 days ago

So under the new eligibility rules Sam could switch from Fiji to England then

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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