Jeff Wilson pinpoints where other countries are ‘better’ as he calls on All Blacks to unleash ‘explosive play’
Jeff Wilson pinpoints where other countries are 'better' as he calls on All Blacks to unleash 'explosive play'
Former All Blacks star Jeff Wilson has urged his side to utilise the bench more efficiently in response to the modern tactics enforced by the Springboks.
The game has changed in recent years, with club and international sides following in the footsteps of the mighty Springboks, as they look to replicate the success of the ‘bomb squad’.
The Rassie Erasmus invention involves leaving some of the most devastating players out of the starting XV, and instead using them to make a major impact when they arrive off the bench – often all at the same time.
Erasmus‘ experimentation with the substitute bench has generated great success, achieving a historic two consecutive World Cup victories, and overtaking the All Blacks as the most successful international team of all time, with a record four championship titles.
Wilson believes that the All Blacks need to take a leaf out of their book if they are to regain ground on their old rivals.
Speaking on the Sky Sports show, The Breakdown, Wilson said: “I did some research over the last couple of years on Super Rugby, the All Blacks and the Springboks. With 20 minutes to go in 50% of the Test matches or Super Rugby, there is a 10-point margin in games. So you win games in the second half, not in the first half.
“You need to get better at where we use our bench. Other teams across the world are using their bench better than us, and so I’m looking at this and going, ‘What do I need to finish games? I need experience. I need explosive play. I need the ability to have versatility.’
“You’ll go, but hold on, you only had a six, two split. Well, that’s what you want, because you’ve got a Damian McKenzie and a Richie Mo’unga or a Beauden Barrett. You’ve got both of them playing. I’ve got Will Jordan on the wing. I’m looking at him, going, Fainga’anuku can play in the midfield. For me, he could play at loose forward. He could play on the wing.”
The idea of having more versatile players in the squad, particularly the new hybrid athlete (players that can cover both forwards and backs), is that it would then enable more freedom with bench selection, allowing for more power-based players that can freshen up the pack.
“Do I want 80 minutes of Ardie Savea?”
Wilson also suggested that players such as Ardie Savea, or others who traditionally would start the matches, should make their appearance from the bench when the opposition is tired. The idea being that he would have a greater impact against a fatigued opponent.
“I’m looking at him, going, do I want 80 minutes of Ardie Savea, or do I want 40 minutes of everything he’s got in multiple positions?”
“We need to think about this in the fact that half of the games are decided in the last 20 minutes. You need special skill sets.
Patrick Tuipulotu, for the All Blacks, you watch when he comes off the bench, the difference that he makes, having plenty of power and experience up front. Having the likes of Tamaiti Williams coming off the bench versus starting him. I’m just looking at him and going, how do we think about it a little bit differently?”
The logic appears sound, but the counterargument is that fielding a weaker side to begin with could leave your side at a severe disadvantage as the game enters the business end.
“I actually trust the other players,” countered Wilson.
“You watch the start of Test matches, when nothing happens for the first 20 minutes, nothing, very little happens in the first 20 minutes. It’s an arm wrestle because everyone is fresh. You play in the middle of the park. There are not a lot of points scored early in Test matches. Points are scored late.”
To Wilson’s credit, if the game isn’t going their way, there’s always the option of entering the substitutes at a much earlier stage. But, there’s then the risk of a later injury that could derail all plans when the bench is empty.
The debate will rage on, but there’s no doubt that the innovation will continue.