Victor Matfield keen to lead South Africa revival

VICTOR Matfield is desperate for South Africa to put their nightmare season behind them and end the year with success on the Grand Slam tour, which starts next week and calls at Murrayfield on 20 November.

The Springboks have endured a torrid 2010 losing five out of 10 Tests - all in the Tri Nations.

"The reality is that we did not perform as well as we could this year and did not meet expectations," said the Bulls lock, who will captain the team in the absence of John Smit.

"We have to put that right and I'm confident that we can do it. The nice thing about this tour is that quite a few of the guys have not played a lot of rugby. We've got no excuses of being tired this time; we've just got to get our heads right and do the job."

Regular skipper Smit recently underwent back surgery and is among a host of high-profile players who will be absent for the world champions.

Also out are JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Fourie du Preez, Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brussow, Gurthro Steenkamp and Gary Botha.

The team's showing this year has also put pressure on coach Peter de Villiers, who responded by naming ten uncapped players in a preliminary group that assembled in Johannesburg over the weekend.

That initial squad of 39 will be cut to an expected 30 when the list is finalised after the Currie Cup final on Saturday.

South Africa's trip starts with a meeting with Ireland on 6 November and also takes in Tests against Wales, Scotland and England, followed by the Barbarians at Twickenham.

They have not beaten the Irish in Dublin since 2004 and Matfield said: "We must leave all the history behind and do what's expected of us. We just have to focus and use the positive energy we have in the group and try to get a new winning momentum going."