Former Boks skippers: We would rather face the ABs

Somehow it just looks like there’s something missing within that New Zealand team.

Victor Matfield

Two former Springbok captains and World Cup winners have said they would rather face the All Blacks in the quarter-finals ahead of hosts France.

Victor Matfield said the Boks’ 35-7 victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham in the tournament warm-up match had helped make up his mind.

“Before Twickenham, my mind was the other way because there’s only one team that’s beaten us more than we’ve beaten them and that’s New Zealand.”

Matfield — who was cleanly beaten by Sam Whitelock on his side’s own throw at the crucial lineout of the 2015 semifinal against the All Blacks — said: “It’s always a big battle against New Zealand, but somehow it just looks like there’s something missing within that New Zealand team.

“If you actually think back to last year, they really struggled, came back with one or two good games this year, especially the game against South Africa in New Zealand.”

The All Blacks beat the Boks 35-20 in a muscular display at Mt Smart Stadium in July.

“But at this stage, I think we’d rather play New Zealand.”

Jean de Villiers — who celebrated his 100th test cap with a defeat in Wellington in 2014 — said the All Blacks and France would be tough knockout-round opponents and choosing between them would be a “flip of a coin”.

“But playing France at home with a quality team that has not lost a lot over the last couple of years, versus what we’ve seen from New Zealand recently in the last month or two. With those facts in front of you, you’d be leaning towards New Zealand.

“But write [the All Blacks] off at your own peril,” he added. “They’ve been extremely successful at World Cups.”

The All Blacks and the Springboks are the only sides to win the title three times.

Former Irish halfback Peter Stringer — who finished his test career with a record against the All Blacks of eight matches played, for eight defeats — also said the New Zealanders would be preferred quarterfinal opponents based on their performance against France.

“I think they looked pretty rudderless in that second half. I think their kicking game was off. They were not kicking on their terms, it was very much just get it down the field at all costs and get it out of their own territory. And I think for the first time in a long while, I thought they looked a little bit aimless, with Beauden Barrett not really firing on all cylinders.

“Given the French and being in Paris, definitely New Zealand.”

The three ex-internationals are working as ambassadors for sports gambling agency Betway.