Victor Matfield predicts who could be the Springboks’ ‘big surprise’ in 2026 after storming club season
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and former record cap holder Victor Matfield.
Springboks legend Victor Matfield believes that JJ van der Mescht will have a breakthrough Test campaign after impressing for Northampton Saints this season.
The gargantuan lock, who is just under 23st, has enjoyed a superb year for the English outfit after joining from Stade Francais in 2025.
Van der Mescht spent four seasons in the French capital but struggled to make an impact, despite getting plenty of game time over that period.
Named in Springboks alignment camp squad
His move to the PREM has been transformative and the 27-year-old has been rewarded for his form by Rassie Erasmus with a place in the Springboks alignment camp.
That does not guarantee that he will feature for South Africa this season, but Matfield has high hopes for the second-row ahead of the start of the Nations Championship in July.
“JJ van der Mescht from Northampton, 145kgs, has got a call-up. He went over to France as a youngster, went up to about 170kgs at some stage playing for Stade Francais,” he said on the Rivals podcast.
“I saw him play as a youngster and at schoolboy level he was just unbelievable. He’s big but he’s fast, he’s got great skills and if you think of a guy like RG Snyman is out for the year, someone like him can maybe come in and play off the bench.
“He won’t be used a lot in the lineout, he will be the guy running it up in the midfield and he’s got great skills – off-loading and getting through those tackles.
“I think he might just be the big surprise that Rassie brings in this year.”
Van der Mescht’s call-up came in March but Erasmus’ most recent alignment camp last week saw them gather the domestic-based players together.
That included Bulls star Papier, who has a surprising omission over the past couple of years considering his form for the Pretoria outfit.
“The one guy I am really happy to see there is Embrose Papier, he’s been playing really well for the Bulls and in the previous alignment camps he hasn’t been invited,” Matfield said.
Ageing stars out in the cold
There was no place for some of the older players, however, with the likes of Willie le Roux not included, but Matfield does not believe that it is necessarily the end of the 36-year-old’s Test career.
“There are a few guys that are getting a bit older, there are young new guys coming through. I think a guy like Willie le Roux, if he gets a chance, knows exactly how they want to play and what they want to do,” he added.
“That’s one thing Rassie is pretty good at; if he feels it’s time to move on, get someone new in, he will use them, but he doesn’t say that guy won’t come back and, if needed, put right back into the position.
“It’s for new guys coming through and wanting to see how things are done, so I’m pretty happy with the squad he’s picked.”
