{"id":824664,"date":"2026-07-26T09:44:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T09:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/824664\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T09:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T09:44:09","slug":"matt-williams-the-only-nation-who-can-match-springboks-strength","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/824664\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Williams: The ‘only nation’ who can match Springboks’ strength"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matt Williams believes that France<\/a> could \u2018snatch\u2019 the 2027 Rugby World Cup as Fabien Galthi\u00e9 continues to fearlessly experiment with his squad.<\/p>\n

According to the former Scotland head coach, Les Bleus are the only nation that has the player pool to rival the back-to-back World Cup-winning Springboks, while he has issued a damning review of Andy Farrell\u2019s Ireland side.<\/p>\n

Matt Williams hails France<\/p>\n

Williams sung the praises of Galthi\u00e9 and his team, who won two of their three matches in the July leg of the Nations Championship<\/a>, defeating Australia and Japan after losing their opener against the All Blacks<\/a>, when several top players were absent having played the Top 14 final the weekend before.<\/p>\n

\u201cActing like a counterweight to Ireland\u2019s decline, Fabien Galthi\u00e9\u2019s side on the rise,\u201d the ex-Leinster head coach wrote in the Irish Times.<\/p>\n

\u201cGalthi\u00e9 left several of his senior players in France to recuperate and recover in advance of a World Cup year. After a weakened French team pushed New Zealand to the limit in Christchurch, Galthi\u00e9 displayed his lack of fear by experimenting with two playmakers against Australia and Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n

The outspoken pundit believes that Les Bleus have the pack, depth and backs to go on to win the Rugby World Cup Down Under with their July performances proving the strength of their squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe played the in form outhalf Matthieu Jalibert at fullback, allowing Romain Ntamack to wear the number 10 jersey. Having both of these attacking weapons on the pitch at the same time was electrifying. The possibilities should frighten any opposition,\u201d Williams continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe French appear to be the only nation that can match the South Africans<\/a> with an exceptionally deep roster of players and a giant, aggressive pack in front of several of the game\u2019s most creative individuals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Nations Championship has shown us they are building a formidable squad capable of snatching the William Webb Ellis trophy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nations Championship awards: Springboks and Scotland lead the way whilst a tracksuited red card, a shush from the bus and Argentina\u2019s week of hostilities steal the show<\/a><\/p>\n

Disgraceful Los Pumas<\/p>\n

Turning his attention to the other nations, he picked out Argentina as the losers of July, slamming the players\u2019 behaviour after the defeat to England in their final game of the first leg of the Nations Championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe big loser of the past three weekends has been Argentinian sport. The behaviour of several Pumas and their supporters towards referee Angus Gardner can only be described as appalling, disgraceful and reprehensible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Nick Mallett: Why Argentina is a \u2018massive game\u2019 for Eben Etzebeth and other Springboks<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSadly, the Pumas\u2019 disregard for postmatch sporting values was mirrored by the actions of their compatriots in their soccer team. The actions of both Argentina teams during and after their matches last weekend brought shame to their famous jerseys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s decline<\/p>\n

However, his most damning review was levelled at Ireland who he believes are in a sharp decline as they build towards the World Cup. He likened their trajectory to the 2019 tournament in Japan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup the blind loyalty of many in the Irish rugby community refused to acknowledge the reality of their team\u2019s decline before the shock loss to Japan in the pool stages,\u201d he wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe smell of that same irrational denial is in the air. This Irish team has not descended to the same depths as Joe Schmidt\u2019s Ireland of 2019, but there is no doubt that they are now significantly behind New Zealand, France and South Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore the next instalment of the Nations Championship in November, Ireland have a mountain of work in front of them. With a World Cup at the end of next season, time is short and the pressure is mounting.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Matt Williams: Where Ireland are \u2018well below elite standards\u2019 and the \u2018hard fact\u2019 Andy Farrell\u2019s side must face<\/a><\/p>\n

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