Springbok icon Victor Matfield says New Zealand at present lacks “athletes” like Jonah Lomu, who helped make the All Blacks one of the vital dominant groups on the planet.
New Zealand suffered a uncommon defeat on dwelling soil to Argentina within the Rugby Championship final week. On Saturday, Los Pumas face the All Blacks of their second Check at Eden Park, the place the Kiwis haven’t misplaced in 30 years.
Within the two-Check July tour to the Land of the Lengthy White Cloud, England missed an enormous alternative to file a win over an All Blacks facet wanting more and more weak in their very own yard.
Talking in the course of the newest episode of SuperSport’s ‘Ultimate Whistle Presents Facet Entry’ with former Bok assistant coach Swys de Bruin, Matfield in contrast the present All Blacks facet to groups from the previous whereas highlighting what boss Scott Robertson wants to think about going ahead.
“I went by way of that complete [Argentina] sport once more and once they [the All Blacks] had been below stress, I seemed again on the days when the All Blacks had been actually scary and the one factor they all the time had had been athletes that had been higher than the opposite staff,” the 121-Check centurion mentioned.
“That they had backline gamers who had been greater and sooner than different groups – they don’t have it [anymore]. I have a look at the New Zealand All Blacks backs they usually don’t have higher athletes than every other staff.
“In the event you examine them in opposition to a South African [player] and also you give our wingers a one-on-one [chance] our wingers will likely be higher. In the event you give our centres a go, our centres will likely be higher than them.
“You’ve by no means had that. There’s no Tana Umaga, there’s no Ma’a Nonu, there’s no Jonah Lomu, there’s no Christian Cullen. They don’t have that anymore.
“Like South Africa they’ve gone for guys that’s good within the air, and went for fullbacks on the wings. They’ve gone away from sturdy, large wingers.
“I see this week they’ve gone with Caleb Clarke, who’s in all probability a greater wing for them with ball in hand. He’ll carry onerous, he’ll be a menace.”
De Bruin, in the meantime, questioned whether or not the versatile Beauden Barrett ought to be enjoying fullback or substitute “Tremendous Rugby participant” Damian McKenzie at flyhalf for the All Blacks.
“Sport-wise I see the issue there; I don’t assume Beauden Barrett ought to be 15. He went to the Blues enjoying and working the present there at 15, however in his coronary heart he desires to play 10,” he mentioned.
“They’ve acquired McKenzie who’s actually good with ball in hand and stepper and performs like a Jack Russell. [But] he’s a Tremendous Rugby participant par excellence as a result of the tempo and house is totally different.
“What he does at 10 is he typically takes [the ball] one too far, and when he desires to kick there’s a lot stress…”
Photograph: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Photos
