Springboks Legend Opens Up on What to Expect From Rassie Erasmus’ Side After Beating All Blacks
- Victor Matfield said the pressure of the All Blacks series pushed the Springboks back to their physical, direct DNA
- Matfield pointed to Saturday's 43-28 win over the All Blacks in Baltimore as a sign of a shift in the Boks' approach
- The former lock identified two younger players he believes are seizing their opportunities in the Springbok squad
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Former Springbok lock Victor Matfield expects the world champions to adopt a more attacking and expansive style now that the intense pressure surrounding Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand has eased.
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The Springboks wrapped up the four-Test series with a 3-1 triumph over the All Blacks before shifting their focus to a standalone clash with the Wallabies in Perth on 27 September.
Their attention will then turn to the northern leg of the Nations Championship, where they are scheduled to face Italy in Turin on 7 November, France in Paris on 13 November and Ireland in Dublin on 21 November. The tournament will conclude with finals weekend at Twickenham from 27 to 29 November.
Matfield sees a shift with pressure off
Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast, Victor Matfield said the intensity of the All Blacks series had forced the Springboks to return to the qualities that have traditionally defined their game. He explained that the pressure of the Tests had seen South Africa rely heavily on their physicality, direct approach and core playing identity.
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Matfield also observed a greater willingness from the Boks to attack with the ball during their 43-28 victory over New Zealand in Baltimore. He suggested that with the pressure of the series easing, South Africa could become more adventurous in possession, take greater risks and focus more on maintaining control of the ball.
The former Springbok captain further pointed out that South Africa had displayed a more expansive attacking style in 2025. He felt the team had previously been more willing to take chances and vary their approach with ball in hand than they had during the latest series.
Younger players to get their chance
Matfield also expects Rassie Erasmus to use the upcoming matches as an opportunity to rotate his squad and give more youngsters valuable playing time.
He believes South Africa are in a strong position with their current group and anticipates several changes in the next few fixtures, with emerging players likely to be given opportunities to prove themselves at international level.
Matfield highlighted scrumhalf Morné van den Berg and loose forward Cameron Hanekom as examples of young players benefiting from their opportunities in a successful team environment.
He noted that breaking into a side with an established winning culture can help younger players settle quickly, while also allowing them to learn from the experienced members of the squad by observing how they respond to pressure and communicate during challenging moments.
Springboks veterans face another 2027 question
Briefly News previously reported that Jake White had raised concerns about the physical demands being placed on several experienced Springboks during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The 2007 World Cup-winning coach questioned how much more players such as Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi could give after a demanding run of Tests.
That concern now adds another layer to the wider debate about Rassie Erasmus’ reliance on his experienced core ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
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Source: Briefly News
