Rassie Erasmus hits back at the biggest critic of the Springboks’ 7-1 split
Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus during a press conference in 2023.
South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has hit back at one of the Springboks’ biggest critics of the 7-1 split on the bench.
The Boks first selected a replacement mix of seven forwards and one back in their Rugby World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand after a late injury withdrawal.
It was predicted that the coaches would use the tactic during the World Cup, which has happened as they have included seven forwards on the bench for their Pool B clash against Ireland on Saturday.
Erasmus responds to critic
Former Ireland hooker Keith Wood predicted that World Rugby would change the laws around replacements after the tournament, but former Scotland coach Matt Williams has been far more critical of the Springboks’ tactics.
“Is it legal? Yes. Is it smart rugby? Yes. Is it good tactics? Yes. But it is not morally correct!” Williams told Virgin Media.
Erasmus has since responded to Williams on X, formerly Twitter.
“Hi Matt, I am also over 50 but I dont understand what your point is and how you got to your ‘conclusion’,” Erasmus wrote.
The Springboks boss also included a link to Ross Tucker’s video explaining the complexities of the debate surrounding the number of substitutes and whether fresher players playing against fatigued ones causes more injuries.
“If there is to be a reduction in subs number, it would be despite evidence, not because of it (or for other reasons). Evidence suggests that as replacements are added to a tackle event, injury risk drops. And that fatigued vs fatigued injury risk is higher than fresh vs fatigued,” Tucker wrote on X.
If there is to be a reduction in subs number, it would be despite evidence, not because of it (or for other reasons). Evidence suggests that as replacements are added to a tackle event, injury risk drops. And that fatigued vs fatigued injury risk is higher than fresh vs fatigued
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) September 21, 2023
Nienaber’s reaction
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has also addressed the outcry on the make-up of the bench.
“I think if there is innovation in any sport, it gets reaction, positive or negative,” Nienaber said.
“This is obviously unique; it is the first time a team has named seven forwards and one back on the bench [at a men’s World Cup], so that is why I would say it’s innovation. That will get a reaction.
“In terms of player safety, I don’t get that. I know nothing stops anyone else doing it, and it will be a sad day, I think, if you’re innovative in the laws of the game, and then they would change that.
“It’s not against the laws of the game, and I don’t think it has any bearing on player safety at all.”
Nienaber went on to explain that the Springboks don’t see the eight replacements as bench players.
In 2019, South Africa’s 6-2 split was dubbed the ‘Bomb Squad’ at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and the head coach says that they have maintained the same outlook for their replacements.
“That’s a tough one in our team because I don’t know other teams; our bench isn’t necessarily what I would call a bench,” he explained when asked if he selects his bench before his starting line-up.
“Sometimes people get an idea that if you are on the bench, you are probably not as good as the guy who starts.
“But like we have said numerous times, with the team and squad we have here, that is not necessarily the case.
“I won’t say we start with the bench; we select 23. I know it is probably a cliché, but that is genuinely how we do it. They are selected for specific reasons.”
