Matfield names France as World Cup favourites ahead of Springboks and All Blacks

Victor Matfield, the former Springbok lock and 2007 World Cup winner, has identified France as the team most likely to win next year’s Rugby World Cup, placing them ahead of South Africa and New Zealand as the only three sides he believes are capable of lifting the trophy.

Matfield made the assessment on his Rugby Rivals podcast following the latest round of Nations Championship fixtures, in which all three teams recorded victories. France’s result was the most eye-catching: Fabien Galthié’s side overturned a 21-12 half-time deficit in Brisbane to beat Australia 42-26, with Matthieu Jalibert impressing at full-back.

“The French will probably be the team to beat at next year’s World Cup,” Matfield said. “The previous World Cup, they were a young team, but they’re building; they’ve got a lot of depth.”

He was quick to acknowledge the credentials of the other contenders, but was measured about Ireland’s chances despite their recent form. “I think Ireland can get close, but somehow I don’t see them winning three big games in a row,” he said. “I think the pool will be difficult for them.”

For Matfield, it is France’s squad depth and club-level dominance that sets them apart. Les Bleus were without their Toulouse and Montpellier contingent when they narrowly lost to New Zealand in round one of the Nations Championship, and rested star winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey for the entire summer tour. The fact that a depleted side still produced a commanding second-half performance in Brisbane only reinforced his view.

“The depth they’ve got, the players they’ve got, the confidence — if you look at the European competition as well, dominating it with Bordeaux and Toulouse — I think the French have just got the players,” Matfield added.

The draw could yet shape the tournament’s narrative as much as form. Should France, New Zealand and South Africa all win their pools, they are projected to land on the same side of the bracket — setting up a potential All Blacks versus Springboks quarter-final, with the winner then facing France in the semi-finals.

Matfield’s comments reflect a broader shift in how the global rugby community views the balance of power heading into a World Cup year, with France’s combination of individual brilliance, tactical evolution and domestic strength making them a genuine threat to southern-hemisphere dominance.