Matfield pokes holes in All Blacks’ DNA

Victor Matfield has highlighted a weakness in New Zealand’s game model, while applauding the aerial prowess and “faster” pack of the Springboks at the weekend.

Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast with All Blacks legend John Kirwan, Matfield dissected the Boks’ Nations Championship victory against England at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Matfield and Kirwan first turned their attention to New Zealand’s 34-32 win over France in Christchurch, with the latter praising the expansive approach under new coach Dave Rennie.

“I thought there was some real, old-style All Black flair,” Kirwan said. “There was a couple of stray passes that could have finished them off a wee bit, but I just thought it was a nice balance.

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“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.”

Matfield, though, felt the All Blacks-France clash lacked defensive intensity, and suggested the Boks and New Zealand are shaping up with contrasting game plans.

“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,” the former Bok captain said.

“I think it might change when they come up against a defence where the ball is slow, then you’ll have to play other options.

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“The DNA of New Zealand has always been to keep the ball in hand, and actually kick on the front foot.

“Where South Africa is at the moment, and showed again against England that first half, they just controlled the aerial battle. We won all those kicks back.”

Kirwan added: “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.

“We’re shaping out to see two different game plans coming out of the weekend where I think South Africa, as Victor said, it’s their DNA: hard-running forwards, good set-piece, but also that 28 kick where they starve you off the ball.”

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Matfield noted that late withdrawals to Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi on Saturday forced Rassie Erasmus into fielding a lighter, quicker loose trio that included rookies Paul de Villiers and Cameron Hanekom, which paid off differently.

“It was faster and wasn’t a big, heavy South African pack. Even the bench that came on were quicker guys,” Matfield said.

“Physically, we were there but we didn’t have the upper hand at scrum time or as much when it came to the maul, but the work-rate and the breakdown, we just killed England.”

Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images

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