Matt Damon confesses 'Invictus' doubt

Matt Damon has admitted that he had concerns playing a rugby player in his new film Invictus.

The Hollywood actor, who portrays 6ft 4in former South African captain Francois Pienaar, has revealed that he worried his 5ft 10in frame wasn't enough to authenticate the role, STV reports.

The Oscar winner said: "He's quite a physical specimen. He's 6ft 4in and about 230lbs and I'm 5ft 10in. It was a lot of work to capture Francois physically, but then I spent time talking to him and understanding the stakes of this movie."

The 39-year-old also said that although director Clint Eastwood assisted, he embarked on a rigorous training regime in an attempt to morph his body.

He added: "Clint used tricks and camera angles to make me look taller than I actually am, but, before we started filming, I spent six months doing rigorous physical training trying to change my body."

Invictus is currently playing in US cinemas and is released in the UK on February 5.