South Africa Benefiting from Northern Shift, Says Matfield
Rugby union legend Victor Matfield believes South Africa’s transition to the northern hemisphere has aided the Springboks’ development, despite his nostalgia for the old Super Rugby days.
The 47-year-old former Springboks captain has embraced the move to the United Rugby Championship (URC), noting that the exodus of top players to overseas clubs has actually helped expand the national team’s player pool.
“It’s (the move north) definitely helping a little bit,” Matfield told The Breakdown. “At this stage, our players are playing all around the world, getting a lot of intellectual property from different places. I think we’re developing more and more players through the URC, so our player pool is getting bigger at this stage.”
South Africa’s success in recent years lends credence to Matfield’s assessment. The Springboks defended their Rugby World Cup title in 2023 with a narrow 12-11 win over the All Blacks, while their franchises have been well-represented in the URC finals.
However, the rugby icon still yearns for the glory days of Super Rugby, where the “best players in the world” faced off weekly. “Financially, it looks better as well,” he added, “but for me I still miss the old Super Rugby days.”
The shift to the northern hemisphere has presented both challenges and opportunities for the Springboks. Rassie Erasmus, the national team’s head coach, has had to adapt to the departure of some of South Africa’s greats to overseas clubs. Yet, as Matfield notes, this has helped expand the team’s player pool and facilitated the development of new talent.
As South African rugby continues to thrive in the URC, the country’s rugby enthusiasts, like Matfield, can take pride in the Springboks’ recent achievements while also acknowledging the bittersweet transition from the glory days of Super Rugby.
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