Victor Matfield has recently critiqued New Zealand's rugby tactics, while praising the Springboks' dynamic pack and their command in air during the latest Rugby Rivals podcast episode. Joined by All Blacks icon John Kirwan, Matfield offered his insights following the Boks' Nations Championship triumph over England at Ellis Park. The discussion also touched upon New Zealand's narrow victory against France in Wellington, where both teams presented contrasting strategies.
John Kirwan commended the All Blacks' lively play under their new coach, Dave Rennie, noting, "I thought there was some real old style All Black flair." Despite acknowledging a few errors, Kirwan felt the team maintained a good balance. "I think the All Blacks are going to be looking to play a bit more of an expansive game and run everybody off their feet, or try to,” he added.
"I thought the defence was pretty soft on both sides. Whenever New Zealand run onto the ball, it’s really hard to defend them with the skills and the pace that they’ve got,"
Matfield observed. He pointed out the defensive gaps in the All Blacks-France match, suggesting that New Zealand’s traditional strategy might falter against a more robust defence.Discussing the South African approach, Matfield highlighted their dominance in the aerial game against England, "We won all those kicks back," he stated. Kirwan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the difficulty in countering the Boks' game plan, "The hardest part of playing South Africa is actually their ability to retain the possession but also that 28, which is the box-kick, where they put you under pressure."
Unexpected changes in the Boks' lineup saw Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi sidelined, leading coach Rassie Erasmus to opt for a lighter, swifter loose trio including newcomers Paul de Villiers and Cameron Hanekom. "It was faster and wasn’t a big heavy South African pack. Even the bench that came on were quicker guys," Matfield noted, acknowledging a shift in their usual play style, though admitting a slight disadvantage in scrums and mauls.
"Damian de Allende, he’s just a workhorse and probably the most underrated player in world rugby. Damian Willemse at 15, I thought it was one of his best games I’ve seen him play."
Matfield also praised Jasper Wiese's impactful performance, "Every time he carries he gets metres and he gets the South Africans on the front foot, and from there a guy like Manie Libbok can control the game."The discussion between Matfield and Kirwan highlights the evolving tactics in international rugby, marking an exciting phase of strategic diversity between top teams like New Zealand and South Africa.