SPRINGBOKS: VICTOR MATFIELD BAFFLED THAT ALL BLACKS IGNORE ‘BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD’
Springboks legend Victor Matfield cannot understand why New Zealand Rugby refuse to select some of their best All Blacks.
The ex-Boks lock believes that Scott Robertson is without some of ‘the best players in the world’ due to NZ Rugby’s selection policy around overseas-based players.
Matfield also highlighted where the All Blacks are currently on par with the Springboks but believes that the Rassie Erasmus’ ‘biggest strong point’ will ultimately be the difference when the two sides collide at Ellis Park in round three of the Rugby Championship.
Overseas All Blacks
Following the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand lost a huge chunk of experience with All Blacks great Aaron Smith hanging up his Test boots along with fellow legend Sam Whitelock.
Dane Coles also brought the curtain down on his illustrious career but the end of the tournament also meant it was the final Test matches for Richie Mo’unga, Brodie Retallick and Shannon Frizell who all signed deals with Japanese clubs.
Robertson is currently not permitted to select overseas-based players that are not contracted to NZ Rugby, which has denied him the opportunity to select the above-mentioned trio and that list will grow later this year with TJ Perenara and Sam Cane leaving too.
While South Africa used to have a similar selection policy only allowing certain players who had reached a certain cap threshold to be selected from abroad, those restrictions have been banished and Matfield believes New Zealand should follow South Africa’s lead.
“I went through the teams [for the clash at Ellis Park] and I sat back and thought ‘Actually they are on par’,” Matfield said on Supersport’s Final Whistle presents Side Entry show.
“But then I went to that bench and I just looked at the Bomb Squad, the players that South Africa will put on from the bench in that second half and that’s where the difference is and that’s where we sit – the depth of the South African squad at the moment is our biggest strong point.
“Then we again go back to why isn’t New Zealand letting a guy like Retallick, Mo’unga, and Frizzell [be selected] – these are the guys that you want playing for your national side.
“They’re the best players in the world. Why aren’t they playing? And that’s the questions we’ve been asking to New Zealand Rugby. And only they can answer.”
Matfield wary of wounded All Blacks
Despite the Bok great believing that the Springboks have the slightest edge going into the encounter, he is wary of the All Blacks, particularly after Robertson’s personnel changes from the first Test against Argentina to the second.
“I felt in that first Test against Argentina, if you looked at that backline, it wasn’t the kind of New Zealand backline that we have become accustomed to,” he explained.
“If I think back to my playing days, there were always some of these backs that you were just so worried about because if they got a turnover, they were gone and it could end up being a try and I just didn’t see that for a while.
“But I do think the team they picked this week and the one they picked in the second Test with Caleb Clark – a winger that’s going to get you over that advantage line – and with Rieko Ioane back at 13 already it looks different and you could see it last week as well.”
Where the All Blacks ‘dominated’ Argentina
Matfield took another jab at All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan about the ex-winger talking about the scrum and set-pieces between the two Tests against Argentina but added that Robertson’s side could challenge the Boks in that area of the game.
“They dominated the lineouts [against Argentina at Eden Park], Ethan Blackadder was fantastic on contesting at lineout time, at the scrums they got penalties and the moment you start getting scrum penalties you get territory, you get possession in the right areas of the field and then the All Blacks are always very difficult,” he added.
“We mustn’t forget the last time the All Blacks came to Ellis Park, they came into it off the back of a big hiding in Nelspruit, they were the underdogs and they just showed they are always the All Blacks [and you can’t underestimate them].
“So although we always ask questions because we’ve got this high regard for the All Blacks and the amount of Rugby Championships they have won and the last time South Africa won the Freedom Cup was in 2009. It’s very difficult to be the favourites against the All Blacks, but we do go into this game as favourites.”
2024-08-30T13:07:08Z dg43tfdfdgfd