Victor Matfield, a Springbok legend with 127 caps and a 2007 World Cup winner, recounted his experiences with business and high-profile figures, including South Africa's president and the world's richest man, Elon Musk.
Matfield, who now runs a fuel company owned by AFCON president Patrice Motsepe, shared that while Musk is South African, he has shown little interest in engaging with the country. "People here have tried everything to get to Elon," Matfield said. "He is South African but from what I’ve heard he doesn’t want to know too much about South Africa. He doesn’t like certain policies."
Matfield also noted that former U.S. President Donald Trump is currently displeased with some South African politicians. Despite these political sentiments, Matfield highlighted the unifying power of sport in South Africa, referencing the Springboks' World Cup victories and even national soccer team's recent success.
Matfield's career included a dominant period against England, with his team not losing to them for eight years. He recalled a particularly strong performance in the 2007 World Cup group stage where South Africa "smashed them off the park," followed by a victory in the final. He also commented on England's current players, expressing a lack of admiration for Maro Itoje, whom he believes lacks the lineout running skills of players like Sam Whitelock and the physicality of South Africa's Eben Etzebeth. He did, however, praise young player Henry Pollock for his speed and feel for the game.
Reflecting on his own playing days, Matfield emphasized the physicality and DNA of South African rugby, citing teammates like Bakkies Botha and current players such as Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit as exemplars of this tough, set-piece-oriented style. He also mentioned the significant impact analysts like Joe Lewis, who previously worked with England, can have on games, drawing a parallel to his own experience with coaches who gained inside knowledge of opponents.
Despite acknowledging South Africa's challenges, such as traffic safety issues, Matfield expressed optimism and a deep affection for his home country. "Yes, our country has issues, but so does every other country. I still believe there is no better place in the world to live than South Africa," he stated.
Matfield's business ventures have also seen him involved in significant transactions, including a consortium that purchased a large buffalo for 168 million rand (approximately £8 million) from South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, when Matfield was CEO of a game animal trading company. He suggested that while a sponsorship from Musk's Tesla would be desirable, it remains unlikely given Musk's current stance on engaging with South Africa.