Victor Matfield places Rugby World Cup favourites tag on all-conquering Springboks

The legendary lock says that the All Blacks' tour of South Africa has been hugely beneficial for Dave Rennie's team, who will be in the hunt for the title too, with France being the other front-runner.

Matfield argues that those three nations are the only ones who can win three tough matches in a row, namely the quarter, semi and final in the tournament.

"I think this will mean a lot to the All Blacks," Matfield said on SuperSport's Final Whistle presents Side Entry show.

"They will go away knowing what they are going to face at the World Cup. We must go into a World Cup as a favourite. It doesn't matter what happens in the next few games we play.

"I've said it from the beginning: there are just three teams that can win that World Cup, us, the All Blacks or France. I don't think there's any other team that can win three big games, and I think that's why Rassie said three games. If you want to win a World Cup, you need to be able to win the quarter and semis, and it will be three tough games."

Former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett also featured on the show and slammed the draw for the tournament next year in Australia as South Africa and New Zealand are set to collide in the quarter-finals of the tournament if the duo both top their respective pools.

If that does occur, the victor would likely face France in the semi-final, provided that they also top their pool and progress past the round of 16 and quarter-final. Mallett argues that if the Boks are to reach the final for a third consecutive World Cup, they will face their easiest opponent there.

"We're going to have All Blacks and France in the semis, and then we'll have to play someone else; the final will probably be our easiest game," he said.

Matfield replied: "That's what we had in the previous World Cup. So you need to be able to deliver three weeks in a row, and for that, you need fresh legs.

"You need guys who haven't played all four pool games as well, so you need to be able to manage yourself, and I think that's why we see this team is just getting stronger as the pressure comes on."

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