Victor Matfield names the Springboks’ ‘biggest’ threat to their Rugby World Cup three-peat and it’s not the All Blacks
Springboks legend Victor Matfield believes that the All Blacks will not be their main rivals for the Rugby World Cup title next year.
South Africa and New Zealand currently reside at number one and two respectively in the World Rugby rankings, but the European sides are not too far behind.
England are snapping at the All Blacks’ heels in third, while France have moved back up to fourth after their dominant victory over Ireland in the Six Nations.
France’s impressive Six Nations start
The nature of that 36-14 success for Les Bleus impressed Matfield, who believes that Fabien Galthie’s men will be their primary threat.
That is despite the Springboks’ outstanding 32-17 triumph over the French at the Stade de France in November last year.
It suggested that France still have a way to go to catch the back-to-back world champions, but Matfield rates them above the All Blacks.
“I’ve said it the whole time, France will be South Africa’s biggest opposition to win the next World Cup. The previous World Cup, everyone thought so [in 2023] because it was at home and it was really close (Boks beat France 29-28 in the 2023 quarter-finals),” he said on the Rivals podcast.
“They’ve still got a young team and they’re still bringing new players in. You think they’re set on certain players but new guys come in and they’re just outstanding.
“If you look at European rugby at the moment, Bordeaux and Toulouse are probably the two teams dominating that. If you put those players together, the flair that they’ve got, the physicality up front.
“I’m a big fan of [Matthieu] Jalibert, I just think he’s outstanding, for Bordeaux and for France. For a long time I think they tried to keep him out to keep that spot for [Romain] Ntamack, but I just think he’s so much better and brings so much more to that French team.”
France team: Fabien Galthie makes five changes as two debutants included for Wales Test
England’s improvement
France are favourites for the 2026 Six Nations title and, having overcome Ireland in their first game, their path has opened up.
Should they get through Wales, Italy and Scotland as expected, they then face England in what could well be a title-decider.
Steve Borthwick’s men are another side that Matfield rates, but he sees them just behind Les Bleus in the pecking order.
“I also think they’re going to be a tough team to beat. It will be interesting to see the French flair against the English structure, knowing exactly what they want to do,” the Springboks legend said.
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“That half-back pairing of England is very underrated. Both of them are playing outstanding rugby, George Ford at 10 is dominating and he’s controlling everything.
“The one thing I want to see is, can they stand up against the physicality of France or the Springboks? That’s the one thing I’m not quite sure yet.
“Game control and knowing what they’re doing, they’re definitely there and they’ve got all the flair on the outside as well.”
