Springboks legend backtracks on ‘unscary’ All Blacks ahead of ‘ultimate test’
All Blacks celebrate against Argentina and Springboks legend Victor Matfield.
South Africa’s record cap holder Victor Matfield is expecting a big challenge from Scott Robertson’s All Blacks this weekend.
That is despite previously questioning the cattle the new head coach had at his disposal after their shock defeat to Argentina.
New Zealand began the Rugby Championship with a 38-30 loss in Wellington, leading Matfield to state that this team is different from the “really scary” teams of the past.
Springboks players better ‘one-on-one’
“The one thing they always had were athletes that were better than other teams. Their backline players were bigger and faster than other teams. They don’t have it,” he said on Final Whistle Presents Side Entry on SuperSport.
“If I look at the All Blacks backs, they don’t have better athletes than any other team. If you compare them against South Africa, if you give our wingers the one-on-one, our wingers will be better.
“If you give our centres a go, our centres will be better than theirs. You’ve never had that. There’s no Tana Umaga, there’s no Ma’a Nonu, there’s no Jonah Lomu, there’s no Christian Cullen. They don’t have that at the moment.”
Matfield has altered his opinion since then, however, after the All Blacks displayed their ability with a 42-10 demolition of Argentina at Eden Park.
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“In the second game it felt like they were dangerous,” he told The Breakdown.
“I was used to the All Blacks having a back three that is really dangerous, but I felt in that first game the backline didn’t really have it.
“In the second game with the changes, it felt like an All Black backline that can get over the advantage line, that is really dangerous when they get the ball.
“They’ve got pace, size and everything so it was a much better team that they picked for that second game.”
Traditional strengths
Matfield also revealed his main area of concern for the Boks ahead of the massive Rugby Championship games in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“The one thing about the All Blacks is always the intensity. I can remember after 2009, when we beat them three times in a row, we arrived at Eden Park and they just lifted the intensity. They were there, they were quick at doing everything,” he said.
Although both teams have improved the so-called ‘weaker’ parts of their game – the Springboks their attack and the All Blacks their set-piece – the legendary second-row still believes that the respective sides will tap into their traditional strengths.
“Against this Bok team, if it goes from set-piece to set-piece, it will be a good game for South Africa. The ABs will definitely want to lift that intensity and play with pace,” Matfield added.
He added: “We always look forward to the Rugby Championship where we can measure ourselves against the All Blacks because it’s the ultimate test.”
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