Victor Matfield expects the Springboks to play at pace against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Speaking on the Rivals podcast alongside ex-All Blacks wing John Kirwan, the former Bok lock shared his thoughts ahead of the 2025 Rugby Championship opener.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has given an indication of the way his team will play by naming Manie Libbok at flyhalf.

TEAM: Kolisi at 8 for Boks’ TRC opener

Erasmus has also dismissed suggestions that the Boks will be underdone, having last played on 19 July against Georgia. Meanwhile, the Wallabies are battle-hardened after a three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions, which they finished with a win on 2 August.

Matfield believes Erasmus will want his side to set a high tempo against an Australian outfit that has had little time to recover from that bruising series.

“If I could choose between the two routes – being game-hardened after a Lions series or in the Boks’ position – I’d probably still prefer the Aussie route,” he said. “Those three matches will make them sharper. But they’ve had to fly 12 hours, deal with jet lag, and play the first Test at altitude in Joburg.

“I want to see guys like Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou, who bring the physicality, keep up with the pace. I don’t think South Africa will try to slow the game down – they’ll lift the tempo and see if the Aussies can stay with them after all that travel.”

RASSIE: Our build-up was brutal enough

Kirwan agreed the travel and altitude factor would test the Wallabies, but said fatigue would not be an excuse for either side.

“People are talking about whether Australia will be tired or match-hardened,” he said. “For me, the best team will win. I don’t think fatigue will be a factor – it’ll just be two sides going at each other. That’s what Test rugby is about.

“What impressed me over the Lions series is that Australia found their mojo and some physicality to match a really tough opponent. The question is whether they can take that same intensity to South Africa, because the Boks will bring it from the first minute.”

KEO & ZELS: Rassie rolls the dice again

Kirwan added that South Africa’s clarity on their rugby identity could give them the edge.

“Sometimes there’s no confusion about your identity – that’s the Springboks. Everyone knows what South African rugby stands for, and they do it from minute one. Australia, right now, are still figuring out exactly what their identity is. That’s the difference.”

Photo: James Worsfold/Getty Images