The era of All Blacks dominance might be a thing of the past, according to rugby legend Victor Matfield. With the international rugby landscape more competitive than ever, Matfield suggests that the glory days of near-constant victory for New Zealand are over. His comments come during a fiercely competitive Rugby Championship, with all four nations evenly matched as they head into the closing stages of the tournament.
Historically, the All Blacks have had a firm grip on the Rugby Championship, especially after Argentina joined the fray in 2013. Guided by coaches like Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen, New Zealand enjoyed a golden era, including a staggering unbeaten run of 22 Test matches between June 2013 and October 2014. However, Matfield believes such streaks are becoming relics of the past. He remarked on the "Rivals" podcast, "It’s going to be interesting. There’s definitely some oil in the fire this weekend."
"Everyone is there; anyone can still win it,"
Matfield's predictions are not just based on statistics but also on the intense competition evident in this year's championship. The Bledisloe Cup, particularly, is no longer a one-sided affair according to Matfield. "For the last few years, it hasn’t really been a competition; New Zealand has just won it too easily, and all of a sudden, I think this Australian side will compete this weekend," he added.
The legendary Springboks lock is not alone in his assessment. Sir John Kirwan, a former All Blacks winger, also commented on the increasing parity in international rugby. Following a significant defeat to South Africa, Kirwan highlighted the current adversity faced by the All Blacks, "The whole country is pretty stressed about it because we are such a proud rugby nation... It’s been a pretty tough time, I would imagine, for the players with all the noise going on."
"If we can get up and beat our good Australian side and take home the championship, then you know that that’s got to be seen as a success,"
Meanwhile, Matfield also touched on the upcoming Springboks' game against Argentina, noting the growing strength of Los Pumas, "Argentina is probably the best attacking side in the world at the moment, so they will test South Africa," he predicted. However, he acknowledged a peculiar trend, "We’re not very good when we are the favourites. We’re much better when we’re the underdogs."
The shifting dynamics in international rugby underscore a broader theme; the gap between teams is narrowing, making for thrilling contests and unpredictable outcomes. As the Rugby Championship draws to a close, the excitement only intensifies, proving that in modern rugby, no team can simply expect to win anymore.
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The era of All Blacks dominance might be a thing of the past, according to rugby legend Victor Matfield. With the international rugby landscape more competitive than ever, Matfield suggests that the glory days of near-constant victory for New Zealand are over. His comments come during a fiercely competitive Rugby Championship, with all four nations evenly matched as they head into the closing stages of the tournament.
Historically, the All Blacks have had a firm grip on the Rugby Championship, especially after Argentina joined the fray in 2013. Guided by coaches like Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen, New Zealand enjoyed a golden era, including a staggering unbeaten run of 22 Test matches between June 2013 and October 2014. However, Matfield believes such streaks are becoming relics of the past. He remarked on the "Rivals" podcast, "It’s going to be interesting. There’s definitely some oil in the fire this weekend."
"Everyone is there; anyone can still win it,"
Matfield's predictions are not just based on statistics but also on the intense competition evident in this year's championship. The Bledisloe Cup, particularly, is no longer a one-sided affair according to Matfield. "For the last few years, it hasn’t really been a competition; New Zealand has just won it too easily, and all of a sudden, I think this Australian side will compete this weekend," he added.
The legendary Springboks lock is not alone in his assessment. Sir John Kirwan, a former All Blacks winger, also commented on the increasing parity in international rugby. Following a significant defeat to South Africa, Kirwan highlighted the current adversity faced by the All Blacks, "The whole country is pretty stressed about it because we are such a proud rugby nation... It’s been a pretty tough time, I would imagine, for the players with all the noise going on."
"If we can get up and beat our good Australian side and take home the championship, then you know that that’s got to be seen as a success,"
Meanwhile, Matfield also touched on the upcoming Springboks' game against Argentina, noting the growing strength of Los Pumas, "Argentina is probably the best attacking side in the world at the moment, so they will test South Africa," he predicted. However, he acknowledged a peculiar trend, "We’re not very good when we are the favourites. We’re much better when we’re the underdogs."
The shifting dynamics in international rugby underscore a broader theme; the gap between teams is narrowing, making for thrilling contests and unpredictable outcomes. As the Rugby Championship draws to a close, the excitement only intensifies, proving that in modern rugby, no team can simply expect to win anymore.