Speedy Boks up for Wallaby brutes
South Africa plan to counter Australia's brutality with speed and guile.
If it sounds like science fiction or somebody playing a practical joke, it is not.
Springbok captain, speaking ahead of the Springboks' opening Rugby Championship encounter with the Wallabies in Brisbane, said winning on Saturday will require more than just brute force.
Matfield said he expects Australia to look dominance in the collisions, through their forwards.
"Michael Cheika likes a big and physical pack, that can dominate the advantage line – like he's done at the Waratahs," the Bok skipper said of the team named by the Wallaby coach.
"He has selected one [physical pack] for tomorrow, opting against picking two openside flanks.
"They will look to dominate the advantage line and our challenge is to stop their big ball carriers, because they will be very dangerous if they get momentum," Matfield added.
While South Africa have a reputation as the brutes of the game, they feel they have other attributes that can serve them well in Brisbane.
"It is not just about physicality," Matfield said, adding: "Workrate is going to be very important.
"The way the game is played these days it is all about speed.
"With our loose trio there is a lot of speed there. They are guys who can work for 80 minutes – they bring something different to the party as well."
Matfield said the one aspect of the Boks' game still causing concern is their fitness, as they step the intensity of their build-up top the World Cup.
However, he does not feel that the outcome of the Rugby Championship will be a determining factor in the World Cup in September and October.
"I have seen teams win the Rugby Championship and go on the win the World Cup, while I have also seen teams not do well in the Championship and also win the World Cup," he told a media scrum in Brisbane.
"It is for us to see where we are as a team and hopefully everything is in place.
"We really want to go out and win this game and win the championship as well, because a win will give confidence to the squad.
"However, if it doesn't go well, there is still time to fix it before the World Cup.
"We have trained hard and worked very hard on our fitness levels, which we will on-going, every day.
"That is one area where [coach] Heyneke [Meyer] felt South African [Super Rugby] teams were not at a level where he wanted them to be."
