Victor Matfield believes JJ van der Mescht — the towering Northampton Saints lock — is primed for a Springbok breakthrough in 2026, going as far as calling him Erasmus's potential 'big surprise package' of the year. The full piece unpacks why Matfield rates the lock so highly and what Van der Mescht would need to do to force his way into Bok contention.
AnalysisSpringboksSA Rugby Mag
Matfield tips Van der Mescht as Erasmus's 2026 wildcard
Matfield has singled out Van der Mescht as a dark-horse Bok lock for 2026 — worth reading for the full breakdown of what's caught Big Vic's eye.
Read the originalRead the full piece on SA Rugby Mag
- Rassie Erasmus
- Springboks
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