Victor Matfield predicts that Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell will have a massive impact in their return to the All Blacks but warns that Australia beat the Springboks in an area where New Zealand were poor in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Dave Rennie’s side will host Australia at Eden Park in the first Bledisloe Cup match of 2027 with the Wallabies heading into the fixture off the back of a 42-38 victory over South Africa.
The Boks were on a three-game winning streak before the defeat in Perth, beating the All Blacks in Cape Town, Soweto and Baltimore to win the inaugural RGR series.
New Zealand lost the big moments against South Africa
Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast, Matfield said that South Africa won the big moments in the series to overcome the All Blacks with Rassie Erasmus’ side relying on the experienced players to get over the line.
He added that is where New Zealand fell short but may be better against the Wallabies with Frizell and Barrett coming back into the mix while Richie Mo’unga is set to have an extended run at fly-half after earning his first Test cap since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final – starting the game in Baltimore.
“There was a lot of talk about the big moments that they lost against South Africa. I mean all of those Test matches were really competitive; they could have gone either way,” Matfield said.
“But you talked about the South African team; there are a lot of very senior team guys that make the right decisions under pressure, and that’s something that maybe New Zealand just lacked. In the big moments, they didn’t make the right decisions, but I think there are a few guys coming back into the squad.
“I think a guy like Richie Mo’unga will probably get that 10 jersey now to go out there and just run the team. He hasn’t been there for a long time. It will also take some time.
“The Japanese league is not quite at the same level as Test match rugby. So it will take him time just to get back into it, and it’s a great opportunity.
“Scott Barrett, I still believe that he’s a fantastic rugby player. I know he was under a lot of pressure last year with the captaincy, but as a player, if he plays second row or even blindside flank, he will have a massive impact.
“And then Shannon Frizell. I saw some of the games he played in Japan, and he was just outstanding. Before he went over to Japan, he was probably the standout player for the All Blacks in that back row, so he can bring a lot of physicality.”
Where the Wallabies will test the All Blacks
While those players will make a difference for the All Blacks, the former lock warns that the Wallabies managed to beat the Springboks in the aerial battle, an area of the game where New Zealand struggled throughout the RGR series.
Joseph Sua’ali’i was particularly brilliant in the air after shifting from centre to earn his first start on the wing for Australia, although Les Kiss could move the former rugby league star back into the midfield for the Eden Park showdown, with Len Ikitau in doubt while Hunter Paisami has been banned.
Jeff Wilson: Why the All Blacks should be ‘nervous’ about ‘confident’ Wallabies team
The Wallabies forwards also fronted up against the Boks, according to Matfield, particularly in the first half, and says that the All Blacks will be tested physically.
“If you look at that Australian side against South Africa, they actually stood up. Yes, it wasn’t the same team in the second half when the first-choice front-row came up; they struggled at scrum time, but Australia brought a lot of physicality, and they also have got a really big pack. So I think New Zealand will be tested physically,” he said.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
“The other area where Australia actually outplayed us, and that’s probably one of your biggest weaknesses, is the aerial battle. They actually beat South Africa in the aerial battle; they got all the scraps, and from there they could play. The All Blacks against South Africa, that’s one area in all four Test matches that they really struggled.
“Under the high ball, they will be tested. It will be interesting to see if Suaalii is going to stay on the wing or if they will move him to that 13 jersey. So I think physically you will be tested, and I mean that aerial battle is so important in the modern game.”