Matfield pokes holes in All Blacks’ DNA

Victor Matfield has highlighted a weakness in New Zealand’s game model, while applauding the aerial prowess and “faster” pack of the Springboks at the weekend.

Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast with All Blacks legend John Kirwan, Matfield dissected the Boks’ Nations Championship victory against England at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Matfield and Kirwan first turned their attention to New Zealand’s 34-32 win over France in Christchurch, with the latter praising the expansive approach under new coach Dave Rennie. truewildgame.online

“I thought there was some real old style All Black flair,” Kirwan said. “There was a couple of stray passes that could have finished them off a wee bit, but I just thought it was a nice balance.

“I think the All Blacks are going to be looking to play a bit more of an expansive game and run everybody off their feet, or try to.”

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Matfield, though, felt the All Blacks-France clash lacked defensive intensity, and suggested the Boks and New Zealand are shaping up with contrasting game plans.

“I thought the defence was pretty soft on both sides. Whenever New Zealand run onto the ball, it’s really hard to defend them with the skills and the pace that they’ve got,” the former Bok captain said.

“I think it might change when they come up against a defence where the ball is slow, then you’ll have to play other options.

“The DNA of New Zealand has always been to keep the ball in hand, and actually kick on the front foot.

“Where South Africa is at the moment, and showed again against England that first half, they just controlled the aerial battle. We won all those kicks back.”

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Kirwan added: “The hardest part of playing South Africa is actually their ability to retain the possession but also that 28, which is the box kick, where they put you under pressure.

“We’re shaping out to see two different game plans coming out of the weekend where I think South Africa, as Victor said, it’s their DNA: hard running forwards, good set-piece, but also that 28 kick where they starve you off the ball.”

Matfield noted that late withdrawals to Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi on Saturday forced Rassie Erasmus into fielding a lighter, quicker loose trio that included rookies Paul de Villiers and Cameron Hanekom, which paid off differently.

“It was faster and wasn’t a big, heavy South African pack. Even the bench that came on were quicker guys,” Matfield said.

“Physically, we were there but we didn’t have the upper hand at scrum time or as much when it came to the maul, but the work-rate and the breakdown, we just killed England.”

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Matfield reserved special praise for Bok backs Damian de Allende and Damian Willemse, along with No 8 Jasper Wiese.

“Damian de Allende, he’s just a workhorse and probably the most underrated player in world rugby. Damian Willemse at 15, I thought it was one of his best games I’ve seen him play.

“The other guy from South Africa that I think people will need to start looking at as one of the best is Jasper Wiese.

“Every time he carries he gets metres and he gets the South Africans on the front foot, and from there a guy like Manie Libbok can control the game.”

Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images

The post Matfield pokes holes in All Blacks’ DNA appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Jabu Mahlangu has named two players he would release from the club ahead of next season.

Amakhosi have signed two new players which are Thabo Moloisane and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner.

In their goalkeeping department, Chiefs will have a headache given they have four keepers who have played international football. Bruce Bvuma, Brandon Petersen and Fiacre Ntwari have all been the club’s number one goalkeeper at one point and remains to be seen where Leaner will fit in.

Speaking on Soccerzone, Mahlangu said Ntwari and Bvuma should make way following the signing of Leaner.

“For me, Ntwari can be released,” the ex-Kaizer Chiefs attacker said.

“For they can release Ntwari to try somewhere else because I don’t see him as Pertsern’s backup or helping Petersen.

“But Leaner, I see him competing with Petersen and pushing each other more than Ntwari.

“Bruce is inconsistent. When he gets a chance, he makes costly mistakes. If they have a young goalkeeper from the development, then personally, I would release Ntwari and Bvuma.”

Brandon Petersen is first choice keeper for Kaizer Chiefs

Petersen has been the club’s number one keeper since taking over from Bvuma last year. He is in contention to win PSL goalkeeper of the Season after a spectacular year.

Leaner will be the club’s number two, which leaves Bvuma and Ntwari out in the cold. One of the two is likely to be released in the coming weeks.

Kaizer Chiefs have already began their pre-season under new head coach Fernando Da Cruz.

Should Ntwari and Bvuma make way?

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Former Springbok brothers, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis – alongside their business partner and brother Tabbie – have seen their prized two-year-old bull, JAN 23-3125, fetch R1,1 million at the national Beefmaster auction in Parys.

Bred at the brothers’ Janmarck stud near Bethlehem, the elite bull’s seven-figure price tag marked a headline milestone for the Beefmaster Breeders’ Society’s 40th anniversary event, and reportedly ignited a fierce bidding war at the Afridome.

The former Springbok front rowers and World Cup champions, along with Tabbie, own the Janmarck Beefmaster stud located near Bethlehem in the Free State.

Here are the key details from the event:

• The Bull: Designated as JAN 23-3125, the elite Beefmaster bull had been used by the brothers within their own stud for two years before they decided to put him up for sale.
• The Milestone Event: The sale took place at the Afridome in Parys during the Beefmaster Breeders’ Society’s 40th anniversary celebrations. The auction was managed by Vleissentraal and brought down the hammer under auctioneer Ian Grobbelaar.

On the Janmark Beefmasters website, the bull was said to have been sired by Top Gun BOS 18 8154 (a record beefmaster bull) and dam BOS 10 0179 (their matriach cow).

“It is tough to sell a special bull like this but we know he will make any other breeder proud,” the brothers said. “He has always been special and he keeps on getting better. He is negative on all Myostatin Genes.”

Springbok brothers earn big bucks with bull breeding at stud farm

The brothers started their stud in 2013 with the purchase of five registered cows from Bos Blanco.

“From day one, our vision was clear: to focus solely on stud breeding, rather than building a commercial herd. While this approach meant a longer, more deliberate journey, we firmly believed that true value lies in selecting and developing genetic excellence – and that stud animals best capture that value,” their story reads.

“In 2017, we acquired our first animal at a national auction. The following year, in 2018, we hosted our first auction alongside Marnus Steyl – a major milestone in our farming journey.

“Strong maternal lines have always played a central role in our breeding philosophy. Because our father was previously involved in dairying, we understood early on that proven maternal lines are the cornerstone of a reliable breeding program. Without this foundation, there is no genetic consistency or stability in calves. With them, you can count on exceptional progeny year after year.”

History of success

In 2019, the Springboks brothers and sibling Tabbie sold their first bull beyond the R100,000 price tag. Since then, they’ve reached several key milestones:

• In 2017 they sold their first bull, JAN 1401 at Afridome at the National Beefmaster Auction to Jan Schoeman from Oktavia Beefmasters.
• In 2018 they sold their first stud bull, BOS 1348 to Paul van Vuuren from V8 Beefmasters in Vryburg.
• In 2019 they sold JAN 1502 to Guy Rensburg from Rensgrow Beefmasters in Komga, Eastern Cape.
• In 2020, sold JAN 1705 to Maritz Wolfaardt from Marnell Beefmasters from Hoopstad in the Free State.
• In 2021, Chris van Heerden & Christian Le Roux from Gantouw Beefmasters, Bronkhorstpruit acquired their highest priced bull at our auction, JAN 1905.
• In 2022, they set a new farm record when Beef on Grass Beefmasters from Warmbad bought JAN 1909 and achieved the highest price.
• In 2023 (JAN 2047) and 2024 (JAN 2150), Wynand & Philip from NGB Beefmasters purchased the most expensive bulls.