Victor Matfield has put his finger on what separated the two sides in the Springboks' 33-16 loss at Ellis Park — the bench. Matfield notes that the Bomb Squad failed to deliver its usual impact, which he describes as something you rarely see under Erasmus. The piece explores his reading of how that bench underperformance shifted the game's momentum decisively in New Zealand's favour.
AnalysisSpringboksRugbyPass · Planet Rugby
Matfield flags the Bomb Squad's rare off-day as key to All Blacks' Ellis Park win
Matfield identifies the Bomb Squad's uncharacteristic flat showing as the critical difference in the All Blacks' first-Test win — a rare chink in Erasmus's most trusted weapon.
- Springboks
- New Zealand
- Rassie Erasmus
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So how deep is the Springbok squad?
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