Victor Matfield hails current Springboks as 'greatest ever' ahead of epic All Blacks series
Victor Matfield has labelled the current Springbok side the greatest in South African history as they prepare to launch a historic four-Test series against the All Blacks.
The Springboks have received crucial intelligence from South African franchises regarding the All Blacks' aggressive playing style, particularly at the breakdown, ahead of their upcoming Test match on Saturday. In their previous encounters, the All Blacks had defeated the Stormers, Sharks, and Bulls, all being part of the United Rugby Championship.
The Springbok management reviewed these matches closely and consulted the respective franchise coaches - John Dobson (Stormers), JP Pietersen (Sharks), and Johan Ackermann (Bulls) - to gather insights. Assistant coach Felix Jones confirmed that the Springboks have indeed been informed of several concerning tactics employed by the All Blacks during these games.
Jones highlighted the importance of "tucked shoulders," a reverse arm type of wrapping action, which has emerged as a common trend in the feedback received. Jones emphasized that while they appreciate the physicality of the game, the primary focus remains on ensuring safety and adhering to the rules. The first Test is scheduled for Saturday at 5.10pm, with both teams to be announced on Thursday.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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