‘We don’t care’ – Siya Kolisi responds to criticism of ‘abusive’ Bomb Squad tactics

Siya Kolisi says the Springboks “don’t care” about what the critics of their Bomb Squad tactics have to say.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 6-2 split in favour of the forwards for both of South Africa’s games against Ireland this July.

The tactics have come under severe scrutiny from former Scotland coach and now pundit Matt Williams, who believes that it is an “abuse of safety laws” and claims that it is not in the spirit of the game.

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Earlier this week, Erasmus hit back at Williams for his comments and now Kolisi has done the same and states that while they might not use a forward-heavy bench all the time, they won’t stop entirely.

“It happens so much, we don’t care, and why should we care,” the Bok captain said when asked about the criticism levelled at his team’s tactics.

“There is a rule book, and we do nothing that breaks any of the rules, and what we do what works for us. But it doesn’t work for everybody.

“You will never hear us commenting about other teams’ tactics because the focus is on what works for this team, what gets the team going, and what the team needs for Saturday.

“We don’t know why people always have something to say about what we do but we never say anything about them but it’s fine; they can keep talking, we’ll just keep focusing on what we do, and if it doesn’t work then we can change it, but we don’t sit and dwell on it.”

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Take it as a compliment

Kolisi believes that if the Springboks opt to select a 6/2 or 7/1 split, the opposition team should take it as a compliment because the Boks are looking to nullify one of their strengths.

“I honestly believe that they should see it that way because if we are strengthening here, that’s where we know they are strong,” he added.

“We make plans for who we are playing, and while our game plan doesn’t change, the personnel will. Maybe Siya only lasts 20 minutes, and then we must put this guy in. It’s not that we want to have fewer backs; it’s about what the team needs on a specific day and the way you want to play.”

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Spirit of the game

Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick agreed with his skipper and took exception to Williams, stating that their tactics were “against the spirit of the game”.

“It is in a good spirit of the game and people in South Africa enjoying watching our Bomb Squad coming on together, and it works for us,” he said.

“If it works for us, we are not going to change it, and on a day if we decide to go 7-1, we’ll do that, and if we feel 5-3 is what we need, then we’ll do that too.

“One of the challenges we have now in our game plan is that our backline players are running a lot of metres, so there are going to be times when we go back to the 5-3 split.

“When it comes to the spirit of the game, if you want a positive spirit, look at the South Africans; that’s how we play the game. It’s in a good spirit and between us and the Irish, there’s a good respect for one another.”

He added: “Ireland used the 6-2 split during the Six Nations, and whatever works for you on that particular day, as long as it is within the rules of the game, there isn’t anything wrong with it.”

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