Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Clermont bring a fresh twist to the Springboks' bomb squad tactic

(Photo by Olivier Chassignole/AFP via Getty Images)

Clermont successfully gambled with a Springboks-like bench tactic to ensure they won Friday night’s Challenge Cup opener versus Edinburgh. The Rugby World Cup-winning South Africa raised eyebrows on a number of occasions throughout 2023 by naming replacements that had a seven forwards/one back split.

ADVERTISEMENT

French club boss Christophe Urios came up with a fresh take on bench use in rugby, though. With his Top 14 team struggling against their Scottish visitors and in danger of surrendering a lead that had been cut to 17-13 after 61 minutes of play, the head coach reacted in a brusque manner to what he was seeing.

The introduction of replacements is usually a thing that gradually happens during the second half of a match, but so fed up was Urios by his starting team’s display that he sent on seven Clermont replacements in one go, and that wholesale change was immediately rewarded.

Video Spacer

Jacques Nienaber on evolution and why he left international rugby

Video Spacer

Jacques Nienaber on evolution and why he left international rugby

Former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has given his first Leinster press conference and at it spoke about how big a role family played in his decision to leave Test rugby. He also spoke about evolution and how it will take a while to get things right at Leinster.

Daniel Bibi Biziwu, Yohan Beheregara, Henzo Kiteau, Killian Tixeront, Fritz Lee, Baptiste Jauneau and Jules Plisson – five forwards and two backs – all took the pitch at the same time at Stade Marcel-Michelin, just minutes after another sub back has entered the fray.

French media match reports outline how interplay from two of the subs swiftly created the chance for Alex Newsome to score and put Clermont back on track for their eventual 31-18 win.

“The substitutes gave us the energy we needed to turn the game around,” reckoned Urios post-game. “The players didn’t know it, but I had imagined changing seven players on the hour mark.

“We lacked physical intensity… were disappointing in the rucks and the physical commitment. Edinburgh started the game on time, but we didn’t!”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 35 | Six Nations Round 2 Review

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

Second round of the Men's Six Nations | Whistle Watch

Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
R
Rohan 435 days ago

A few years ago England Women were losing to France and changed all 8 subs at once…went on to win

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Fissler Confidential: A tale of two Springbok transfers Fissler Confidential: A tale of two Springbok transfers
Search