According to a prominent rugby figure, there are currently too many substitutes. The Springboks would be most impacted by this.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont has questioned the number of substitutes allowed, much to the dismay of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.
He told The Times, “I think we allow too many substitutes.”
“I don’t know if I’m seeing things through rose-colored glasses, but in the past, the last 20 minutes of a game were usually when it opened up and when games were won.
“The Bomb Squad has won two World Cups and is incredibly successful at what they do. They could run a little bit farther and for a little bit longer, but I won’t condemn them for that because it fits with their style of play.
Tactics challenged
South Africa’s consecutive World Cup titles have been greatly aided by Rassie Erasmus’s unconventional 7-1 split, but it appears that politicians are trying to lessen its impact.
The bomb squad is an iconic Erasmus tactic that is utilised from the beginning to the middle of the second half. It entails swapping out each of his seven forwards to infuse fresh energy into the front row.
It has been demonstrated to demolish opponents, who are frequently overwhelmed by more experienced players during scrums and scrimmages.
If players like Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, and Ox Nche showed up on the pitch, you would be too.
Many attribute the Springboks’ success in winning two of their three elimination games in the last minutes of the 2023 World Cup to the effectiveness of their bomb squad, which allowed them to grind downlate in the match, eams.
Should Beaumont’s desire for fewer replacements come to pass, Springboks’ brilliant plan will be derailed, compelling Erasmus—and Erasmus alone—to reconsider his approach.
The fact that only the Springboks choose the 7-1 split suggests that they will be the ones most impacted by the new regulation. This appears to be World Rugby’s attempt to neutralise the bomb squad and impede South Africa’s supremacy.
Erasmus responded to Beaumont’s remarks on X by stating, “Bomb squad? It is fortunate that games are decided on the field, not in boardrooms.
The two-time World Cup champion coach is offended by what the chairman said.
Bomb squad under threat
Since its introduction in 2019, the bomb squad has been globally disputed, with many believing it to be outside the spirit of the game.
Perhaps they’re sore losers – or envious that they can’t replicate it’s potency.
Either way, hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie.
