Victor Matfield says the Springboks go into Saturday’s match against France as underdogs.
The clash at the Stade de France is a rematch of the famous 2023 World Cup quarter-final at the same venue, when the Boks edged the hosts 29-28.
The back-to-back world champions arrive in Paris having defended their Rugby Championship title and thrashed Japan 61-7 at Wembley last weekend.
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France have spoken all week of “revenge”, but are without several injured players, including inspirational captain and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
Matfield, though, believes Les Bleus still pose a massive threat.
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“It’s probably our toughest Test of the year – even tougher than going down to Eden Park [to play the All Blacks],” the former Bok lock said on the Rugby Rivals podcast.
“It’s going to be a huge Test. I think we’re the underdogs going into this, even though we’re playing well.
“One thing that could help us is France haven’t played together for a while [since the Six Nations in March and a three-Test series in New Zealand in July] and have one or two injuries, but they’ve been waiting two years for this grudge match after the quarter-final.”
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Reflecting on last Saturday’s match in London, Matfield added: “Against Japan, the Springboks’ physicality and intensity were just too much. Unfortunately the Japanese players couldn’t live with it.
“A guy like Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] finds two half-gaps, scores twice, and it’s game over. Against the top teams, if you don’t stand up physically – especially in the 22 for attack and defence – you’re in trouble.”
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He warned that mindset will be crucial in Paris.
“On tours you can slip – in 2010 we beat Ireland, England and Wales, then lost to Scotland. If you’re not mentally up for it, you’ve got a problem.”
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
