Sir John Kirwan ‘bored to tears’ of watching the Springboks as Victor Matfield snipes back at All Blacks legend
Springboks players during the Greatest Rivalry series and All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan.
Victor Matfield has hit back at Sir John Kirwan after the All Blacks legend stated that watching the Springboks “bores me to tears”.
The arch-rivals are currently locked at 1-1 in the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, but the respective sides have employed contrasting styles.
While New Zealand have looked to move the ball through the hands, South Africa have sought to impose their physicality on the tourists with emphasis on the scrum and maul.
Rassie Erasmus’ men have also put the ball up in the air plenty of times, with box-kicking a key tactic for the back-to-back world champions.
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That has left Kirwan unimpressed, who has been delighted to see the All Blacks under Dave Rennie return to the style which has served them so well for the past century.
“I think the team is getting better, I love the style of play,” he said on the Rivals podcast.
“I think a lot of South Africans who came up to me afterwards going, ‘yeah we won, but it’s great to see you guys playing rugby’, and I think that can be as provocative as you want it to be, but for 15 minutes of the game, all the Springboks did was kick box-kicks.
“Let’s talk about the philosophy of the game, the beautiful game which is something I think we all love, and I don’t think South Africa are particularly playing that.
“I know they had to get the win on Saturday but sometimes the way they play frustrates me.”
Those comments did not go down well with Springboks legend Matfield, who snapped back at Kirwan.
“Why? There are different ways of playing the game. Everyone doesn’t have to play it the way you do. In South Africa, we love a big scrum, going over guys, box-kick and winning it back received cheers,” he said.
“You just keep to your way of playing and we keep to what we do. Let your style beat us, then you’re fine, but don’t tell us our game isn’t right.”
Kirwan did back down slightly but could not resist another jibe, adding: “I don’t disagree Victor but it just bores me to tears.”
Argument continues
Matfield would not back down, however, claiming that the All Blacks can look ‘boring’ when going side-to-side without getting anywhere.
“But that’s your problem, we love it,” he said. “Doesn’t it bore you when you go for 15 phases across the field, left to right, right to left and don’t go anywhere? Keep throwing and nothing happens, doesn’t that bore you?”
The former All Blacks wing then responded: “Yeah but Victor, half the time you’re pushing so hard in the scrum, we’re standing out the back there doing nothing – it’s a 15-man game.
“When we talk about the two DNAs, South Africa play to their DNA and they’re awesome at it, we are starting to play to our DNA.
“They’re two different philosophies; that doesn’t mean I have to like the philosophy.
“Ours is way more high risk, and it’s way more 15-man game. Two different philosophies and I want our philosophy to win.”
