Former Scotland coach Matt Williams believes there’s only one team in world rugby at the moment capable of matching the Springboks’ depth and physicality.
While many believe the All Blacks are the Boks’ closest rivals for World Cup glory next year, Williams warns that Fabien Galthié’s Les Bleus could be primed to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
Despite opening their Nations Championship campaign with a narrow defeat to the All Blacks, an understrength France side responded with convincing wins over Australia and Japan after several frontline players returned from Top 14 commitments.
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Williams believes those performances underlined the extraordinary depth at Galthié’s disposal.
“Acting like a counterweight to Ireland’s decline, Fabien Galthié’s side are on the rise,” Williams wrote in the Irish Times.
“Galthié left several of his senior players in France to recuperate and recover in advance of a World Cup year. After a weakened French team pushed New Zealand to the limit in Christchurch, Galthié displayed his lack of fear by experimenting with two playmakers against Australia and Japan.”
Williams was particularly impressed by Galthié’s decision to start Matthieu Jalibert at fullback alongside flyhalf Romain Ntamack.
“He played the in-form outhalf Matthieu Jalibert at fullback, allowing Romain Ntamack to wear the No 10 jersey. Having both of these attacking weapons on the pitch at the same time was electrifying. The possibilities should frighten any opposition.”
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For Williams, France are now the biggest threat to the Springboks’ grip on world rugby.
“The French appear to be the only nation that can match the South Africans with an exceptionally deep roster of players and a giant, aggressive pack in front of several of the game’s most creative individuals.
“The Nations Championship has shown us they are building a formidable squad capable of snatching the William Webb Ellis trophy.”
While Williams was glowing in his assessment of France, he was far less complimentary about Argentina and Ireland.
He labelled the behaviour of several Pumas players and supporters following their defeat to England as “appalling, disgraceful and reprehensible”, saying the incidents brought “shame to their famous jerseys”.
Williams also warned that Ireland are heading down a worrying path before the 2027 World Cup.
He believes Andy Farrell’s side have slipped behind the Springboks, France and the All Blacks, drawing comparisons with Ireland’s decline before the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
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“This Irish team has not descended to the same depths as Joe Schmidt’s Ireland of 2019, but there is no doubt that they are now significantly behind New Zealand, France and South Africa.
“Before the next installment of the Nations Championship in November, Ireland have a mountain of work in front of them. With a World Cup at the end of next season, time is short and the pressure is mounting.”
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The post Moaning Matt: Only one team can topple Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former Scotland coach Matt Williams believes there’s only one team in world rugby at the moment capable of matching the Springboks’ depth and physicality.
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