John Bishop, The Witness

Cape Town - Victor Matfield says that the All Blacks played into Springbok hands with their naive tactical approach in the Tri-Nations international at the Absa Stadium.

Matfield, considered the best lineout forward in world rugby, said the Wallabies will be more of a challenge, tactically, than the All Blacks when they face the Springboks at Newlands on Saturday.

The Springbok vice-captain told reporters that the All Blacks made the South Africans' job easier by running from deep in their own half but the Wallabies would rely on their kickers, Matt Giteau, Berrick Barnes, Stirling Mortlock and Adam Ashley-Cooper, to ensure they played the territory game.

Matfield also said the Wallabies had been talking all week about taking on the Springboks physically.

"The All Blacks played into our hands with all the running they did from deep and Australia won't make the same mistakes. They have a strong pack and Giteau (flyhalf) is a great tactical kicker and once they’re in the right position they like to build the phases."

Matfield said that the Boks had steered clear of mauling from the lineout in Durban because of the referee. But, with Irishman Alain Rolland – he handled the Bloemfontein Test against the All Blacks - again in charge, Matfield said the Boks would look to return to the maul.

The Bulls captain said that the Wallaby lineout would also test the Springboks.

"Nathan Sharpe has been running their lineouts for a while now and they’ll be a tougher challenge than the All Blacks. They also stole quite a bit of ball against the All Blacks."

Matfield said the Australians also have the pack to front up to the Springboks in the forward exchanges.

"There are a lot of perceptions out there and some teams always have their forwards blamed when they lose. But if you look back to the Super 14, then the Waratahs had the best scrum and one of the most physical packs," Matfield said.

Matfield's partner Bakkies Botha said that the Bok second-row pair could well play on together until the next World Cup, in New Zealand, in 2011.

Matfield agreed that 2011 was a definite long-term goal for the two.

"But winning on Saturday, and taking the Tri-Nations, is the immediate aim and then we will take it from there."

The two will lock the Bok scrum for a world record 50th time on Saturday and Botha, the enforcer in the pack and one of the most physical players in world rugby, said he would continue to play the game as he always has.

"We've had many good times, and Saturday is a milestone, but it's not about us. We just want to go out there and deliver," said Botha.

He said that he and Matfield complemented each other perfectly.

"One of the secrets of our success is that Victor does some of the things I don’t enjoy doing as much, and vice-versa. It's sometimes said that I clean out (at the breakdown) for two, so Victor doesn't need to. But he always brings a great calmness to the entire team."