Victor Matfield, the legendary Springboks lock, recently expressed that the current World Rugby rankings do not accurately reflect South Africa’s dominance in international rugby. Following their defeat to Argentina in Argentina, Rassie Erasmus’ team fell to second place in the rankings. However, they did not regain the top spot after securing a victory in their subsequent match and winning the Rugby Championship.
Matfield emphasized, “Rugby is about winning those big games,” as Ireland moved back to the top spot after South Africa’s loss in round five. Ireland is expected to retain this position until the Autumn Nations Series begins in November.
After South Africa clinched the Rugby Championship title, Matfield shared his belief that they are the best team in the world. He stated in his Rapport column, “From a team perspective, the Boks may not be number one in World Rugby’s ranking, but for me we are. Rugby is about winning those big games and trophies, and we do that.”
The Springboks have achieved significant victories, including back-to-back World Cups and the 2021 British and Irish Lions series. Their recent 48-7 win over Argentina secured their first Rugby Championship title since 2019, underscoring their success on the international stage.
Regarding the northern hemisphere teams, Matfield asserted, “The northern hemisphere can say what they want.” He believes that South Africa’s recent performances highlight their dominance, adding, “We have won all the trophies and cups we played for in the past few years. In my opinion, we are by far the number one team and I don’t think anyone can compete for that spot.”
Matfield also pointed out that the Springboks hold the Webb Ellis Cup, have won the most Tests this season, and are the only team to have defeated the All Blacks four times in a row.
Looking ahead, Ireland has a challenging schedule in the Autumn Nations Series, with matches against the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia. A loss in any of these games could potentially cause them to lose the top spot. Meanwhile, the Springboks are set to face Scotland, England, and Wales in Cardiff to close out their international season.
