Matfield plays it positive with the Boks
Victor Matfield, Ambassador of Investec, on the Springboks’ chances in the 2019 RWC.
WHAT are the chances that the Springboks can win the 2019 IRB Rugby World Cup for the third time?
Many pugilists will have their thoughts on who the next RWC champions can be and will walk away with top laurels at the 2019 RWC in Japan that will kick-off in just a few days.
On September 20 hosting country Japan will have a face-off with Russia and on Saturday the rugby spectacle will continue having the Springboks up against old rivals, and current holders of the RWC, the All Backs.
A little earlier on the day Australia will play Fiji and France will take on Argentina.
Ambassador for Investec, former Springboks lock and captain Victor Matfield, had a positive thinking on the South Africans chances in this year’s RWC. He was also part and parcel of the Springboks squad winning the 2007 Webb Ellis trophy in France.
“There are seven teams that can easily win the RWC at any given moment and walk away with the title on November 2. But for me it’s really only three teams who can win their knockout matches and goes on to win in Japan.”
“New Zealand, England, Ireland, South Africa and Wales can be potential winners of those seven teams.”
“The big match of course will be on September 21 when the Springboks play the All Blacks. It will be a good statement if the Boks can win this one which of course will put them in a positive frame of mind for the rest of the tournament.”
The tall lock and well-known all over the world, Matfield, played in 127 tests for the Springboks between 2000 and 2015.
He said that the Springboks have a formidable triangle at the back spearheaded by Willie le Roux on full back and then of course the capable hands and kicking boot of Handré Pollard on fly half can keep the scoreboard rolling.
“The Springboks are very confident with (Handré ) Pollard on fly half and of course if Elton Jantjies comes off the bench, he has something to offer to the team as well.”
But it is really the forwards that Matfield embraces. “The forwards must lay a foundation from where any team can work. If they are on top of their game then it makes it easier for the backs to perform.”
According to him the Springboks have the locks to compete with the rest of any team in the RWC.
“Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager can compete with any team, while the likes of Franco Mostert, who is very agile on his feet and then someone like RG Snyman who brings something totally different to the team coming off from the bench.”
“I am not worried about their throw-ins for line-outs and think that they are good.”
All in all Matfield, who travelled to New Zealand with the Investec team, said that he is pleased with the Springboks’ built up towards the RWC in Japan.
But he said what matters the most is that the Springboks have to compete well in the play-off stages in that kind of weather. “But they will have to be looking towards the last three games and the latter part of the tournament to prevail.”
What will be your take on the Springboks chances of bringing back the much coveted Webb Ellis Cup to South Africa?
