After an evenly matched opening half, the Springboks escalated their game. Matfield praised their advance on the Rugby Rivals podcast.
"In that second half you could just see this is a very experienced team that played together for nine years. Rassie also said it in the press conference. I mean, they just had another gear, and that just came through."
The cohesion developed over nearly a decade proved invaluable as the match edged towards its climax. Matfield noted that not only did this familiarity benefit the team, but it also coincided with key injuries on the New Zealand side, further tipping the scales.
"I think the experience, playing together for a long time, there was just an extra gear for them to go to. I think the one or two big injuries for the All Blacks really played a big role as well."
The atmosphere at the stadium was electrifying, with fans fully immersed in the intensity of this historic rivalry. "But again, what a Test match. What an atmosphere. I think everyone was talking about this great rivalry tour. It lived up to all expectations," Matfield added, encapsulating the sentiment of the series thus far.
Amidst strategic plays and pivotal moments, World Player of the Year Malcolm Marx stood out with his remarkable performance, earning commendations from Matfield who suggested he was close to man of the match in their previous game in Cape Town.
"I think he’s special every week. I think in [Cape Town] he could have been the man of the match as well. I actually thought that was probably between him, Eben [Etzebeth] and Cheslin [Kolbe]. But Malcolm is just an outstanding player. What he’s done for South Africa, I mean, he just comes out there, puts his body on the line. He leads that scrum, he gets over the ball, carries. So no, he’s just unbelievable."
With such high stakes and high spirits, this Test series not only celebrated the skills displayed on the field but also highlighted the deep-rooted rivalry that continues to captivate rugby fans worldwide.
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
Category tags: News, Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, Springboks, Test Rugby, Top headlines.
