Victor Matfield expects the Springboks to play more attacking rugby, while rotating their team, during the remainder of the 2026 season.
Having beaten the All Blacks 3-1 in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, the world champions now turn their attention to a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday, 27 September.
The Boks then meet Italy in Turin on 7 November, France in Paris on 13 November and Ireland in Dublin on 21 November on the northern leg of the Nations Championship, before the finals weekend at Twickenham from 27-29 November.
Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast, Matfield said the pressure of the All Blacks series had seen the Boks largely stick to their traditional strengths.
“I think you could see the pressure in this Test series. We went back to what we know, what our DNA is; really being physical, being very direct,” said the former Bok lock.
“I thought last year our attacking game, we were a bit more expansive, we took a few more chances that we haven’t done in this series.”
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Matfield believes there were signs of a shift during Saturday’s 43-28 victory in Baltimore, when the Boks were more willing to keep the ball alive and attack with width.
“We’ll probably see it now with the pressure being off, you’ll see South Africa go and add a little bit of attack to their game.
“We’ll be bit more brave with ball in hand and keep possession a little bit more.”
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Matfield expects coach Rassie Erasmus to use upcoming matches to give more opportunities to younger players.
“I think we’re happy with the squad and I think now we’ll see a lot of changes for South Africa,” he said.
“In the next few games, I think we will see a lot of younger players getting an opportunity and they must show what they can do.”
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Matfield highlighted scrumhalf Morné van den Berg and loose forward Cameron Hanekom as examples of players taking their opportunities.
“It’s so nice as a youngster to step into a team like this with a winning culture where you just go with the flow.
“You can feel when the pressure comes on how the older players handle it, what the talk is, so I think we’re in a good space.”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Big Vic: Boks will be braver appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Victor Matfield expects the Springboks to play more attacking rugby, while rotating their team, during the remainder of the 2026 season.
The post Big Vic: Boks will be braver appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
