Legendary Springboks lock Victor Matfield believes that the All Blacks don’t pose the same threat as they used to.
South Africa and New Zealand will collide in rounds three and four of the Rugby Championship at Eden Park and Sky Stadium, with the former one of the most highly anticipated matches of the year.
The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park in their last 50 games at the iconic ground, but they have not hosted the Boks there since 2013.
Tight five praise
Earlier this week, Scott Robertson named his squad for the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship with New Zealand heading to Argentina for back-to-back matches against Los Pumas.
Speaking on the Rivals podcast with All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan, Matfield was asked whether this is the team that is going to beat South Africa, with New Zealand currently on a four-game losing streak to the Boks.
“I think it’s a good team. I do like what they are doing in their tight five,” Matfield replied.
“There’s a lot of experience there firstly, but a lot of youngsters coming through that can make an impact. We saw this weekend with Australia, the difference [Taniela] Tupou and [Will] Skelton are making, and John [Kirwan] has been talking about this [Fabian] Holland kid, a big body, who can have a big impact. The tight five is looking very good.
“[Wallace] Sititi was outstanding last year, so him coming back is a big plus for them.”
Less threatening backs
While Matfield is impressed by the strength in Robertson’s pack, the backline does not strike the same fear into the opposition’s eyes as the All Blacks of old, according to the Bok great.
In the backline, I still feel it’s not the All Blacks of old, where you look at the backline and you think ‘How are we going to keep them under control?’” he said.
It’s pretty much the same faces we’ve seen there for the last few years. The pack is definitely getting better, but I don’t see a big threat in the backs like you normally have with the All Blacks.”
