'He might just be the big surprise that Rassie brings in this year': Victor Matfield

Legendary South Africa second-row Victor Matfield has tipped Northampton Saints lock JJ van der Mescht to take the injured RG Snyman’s place on the vaunted Springboks bench this year.

Despite their depth in the position, the Springboks are experiencing a mini injury crisis in the second-row currently, with Eben Etzebeth sidelined with a hip injury and Jean Kleyn nursing a biceps injury. While their injuries are not deemed long-term, Snyman will be out until the end of 2026 after suffering the third ruptured ACL of his career in March.

That will leave a noticeable hole among South Africa’s ‘Bomb Squad’, which Matfield believes the 145kg van der Mescht can fill.

The 27-year-old has been a revelation in his debut season at Franklin’s Gardens, and was part of Rassie Erasmus’ virtual alignment camp earlier this year. Though he was not included in the recent alignment camp, solely for players based in South Africa, the 2007 World Cup winner expects him to earn his first cap in the coming months.

Speaking on his Rugby Rivals podcast, Matfield highlighted the Saints star’s skills and offloading, while also naming the inclusion in Erasmus’ squad he is “happy to see”.

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“I think the one guy that I really am happy to see there is Embrose Papier,” he said. “He’s been playing really well for the Bulls and somehow, in the previous alignment camps, he hasn’t been invited, so he’s in there.

“Then JJ van der Mescht from Northampton, 145kgs, got called up. He actually went over to France as a youngster and went up to about 170kgs at some stage playing for Stade Francais. But I saw him play as a youngster and at schoolboy level, he was just unbelievable. He’s big, but he’s fast, he’s got great skills.

“I think if you think a guy like RG Snyman is out for the year, someone like him can maybe come in and play off the bench. He won’t be a lot in the lineout, he will just be the guy running it up in the midfield, but he’s got great skills, offloading and getting through those tackles. I think he might just be the big surprise that Rassie brings in this year.”