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One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks
We’re two rounds and six matches into this year’s Six Nations and a major narrative thread remains conspicuous by its absence. We’ve had debates around Irish fly-halves, England’s fitness standards, Scotland’s mettle and French goats, but we’ve not had the anticipated vitriolic rants and spittle-laden tirades concerning 6-2 bench splits and the death of rugby’s values.
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Which is odd considering this pearl-clutching was front and centre last year, and the year before, and pretty much every year since 2019 when Rassie Erasmus had the gall to amplify the Springboks’ strengths and stack his bench with burly forwards. The crescendo of swooning hot takes went up a notch when – shock, horror – Jacques Nienaber fielded seven – SEVEN! – forwards as replacements during the World Cup against Ireland and for the final showdown against New Zealand. This was effectively the equivalent of spitting in the eye of William Webb Ellis’s ghost.
France have named a 6-2 bench in both matches this campaign. So have Italy. So have England. Scotland did so as well in their match against Ireland on Sunday which means that more than half the match-day 23s in this Six Nations have ripped a page out of the Springboks’ award-winning playbook in the hope of replicating their success.
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But where has all the disdain gone? Last year Stephen Jones of the Sunday Times called Erasmus “arrogant’ for front-loading his bench. The former Scotland coach Matt Williams accused the Springboks of “abusing rugby traditions” by “discriminating against backs”. England’s 2003 World Cup winner, Will Greenwood effectively accused South Africa of exploding the laws of the game, citing health and safety concerns as his primary cause for complaint.
Do they have a point? There’s no denying that South Africa’s Bomb Squad is a crude, blunt tool. It arrives with all the grace and subtlety of a herd of buffalo on the march. The sight of gnarly, ill-intentioned forwards waiting to be unleashed in one go is a visceral reminder that at the elite level, bigger men more often than not will have the beating of smaller men.
Six Nations
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
2
2
0
0
10
2
France
2
1
1
0
6
3
England
2
1
1
0
6
4
Scotland
2
1
1
0
5
5
Italy
2
1
1
0
4
6
Wales
2
0
2
0
1
Whenever a team or athlete starts to dominate their sport in a manner not deemed ‘the right way’, critics will find fault in their tactics. Novak Djokovic has been branded as mechanical, in stark contrast to the fluidity of Roger Federer’s strokes. Max Verstappen’s championships have been caveated by his car’s dominance. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been called boring and predictable, as if the latter attribute was somehow a valid criticism of any outfit’s title credentials.
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This is all well and good, after all, critics can have their bugbears and every story needs a villain. But can we at least have some consistency? Why has no prominent pundit or former player lambasted the arrogance of France’s Croissant Crew, or Italy’s Focaccia Formation, or England’s Warm-Ale Warriors? Maybe they’re just waiting for catchier nicknames. Or perhaps there’s some truth to the feeling that all South African rugby fans have felt for some time, which is this: the Springboks will always be respected, will often be feared, but will struggle to win the hearts of the wider rugby community.
Erasmus is fully aware of this. Last year, before the launch of his team’s unbeaten Autumn tour of Europe, the South African coach invited a select group of British journalists for a series of conversations on the island of Jersey. Senior players and coaches did their best to shift the conversation with a concerted charm offensive.
“I care what people think about the players because they are very good guys,” Erasmus told the Guardian. “You don’t want to make other people unhappy. You don’t want people not to like you. You don’t want people to think you are stubborn. You don’t want people to think you are arrogant, especially if you know the characters in the team.”
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I think that ship sailed after the ill-fated 2021 British & Irish Lions tour. The die was cast after a video of Erasmus’ criticisms of referee Nic Berry’s performance in the first Test was leaked – possibly by Erasmus himself. No matter how uplifting Siya Kolisi’s story might be, no matter how much the team’s attack transforms, no matter how much passion, energy and money South African supporters bring to the game, any team coached or managed by Erasmus will be reviled by a large section of the rugby public.
But we can least give the team their dues? So, rather than an appeal for love, consider this an appeal for respect. Erasmus has changed the game like no other coach in the history of the sport. Not only do we see 6-2 bench-splits as the new normal, but the way replacements are used has been utterly transformed thanks to Erasmus.
Scotland and Wales now regularly change their entire front rows in one swoop, allowing for their scrums and mauls to operate at full capacity across the 80 minutes. Ireland have continued to name their best hooker on the bench, accepting that Dan Sheehan’s impact might be limited in terms of time on the pitch, but that his energy and efficiency in the latter stages of Tests could be the difference in tight contests.
I can see why Erasmus can rub some people up the wrong way; he’s antagonistic and hogs attention in the media. I can see why the Springboks can evoke antipathy; their strength in depth and massive men are a privilege most nations could only dream of. I can see why South African rugby fans can come across as infuriating; they can be brash and obnoxious, and the perpetual tethering of the nation to the team’s exploits can grow tiresome.
But anyone who knows their marks from their mauls must recognise that this team has completely shifted the dial. The coaches at France, Ireland, Italy, England, Scotland and Wales certainly have.
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“The sight of gnarly, ill-intentioned forwards waiting to be unleashed in one go is a visceral reminder that at the elite level, bigger men more often than not will have the beating of smaller men.”
The point is that the bomb squad need only be aerobically fit enough to last 20-30 mins of a sport that is supposed to last 80. This is not illegal and credit must go to Erasmus for spotting this to the benefit of his team. They won a RWC over it.
Ireland often live on the shady side of rules, other teams have too. But usually the rules get adapted to balance things. Probably needs to happen in this case.
When a general law in society is questioned the supreme court often establish what was the intention of the law compared to the effect of it. If they are very different then the law is not serving its purpose. Time for change.
Regarding the hypocrisy argument you might argue against the use of guns in fights, and still be wise to bring your gun to one.
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"Frances Croissant Crew, or Italy’s Focaccia Formation, or England’s Warm-Ale Warriors"
Best part of the article 🤣
yup. 100 percent. the other thing to consider is that a 6-2 and 7-1 can really backfire - so it's up to coaches to decide if they have the cattle to still compete should early injuries occur. So let that be the game always and let coaches innovate as they see fit - it all carries risk and makes for interesting debates.
No lies detected. One standard for ye, another for me.
I think this disdain and antipathy goes beyond Erasmus and his infamous video rant, although his subsequent chastisement at the hands of World Rugby made it much more acceptable to lean into Erasmus and the Springboks, no holds barred.
Part of it is a success tax. To an unintelligent, incompetent loudmouth like Matt Williams, anyone smart and successful will always look suspicious. The same holds true for the sub-sections of the competing fanbases, that supplement the lack of their own life’s achievement by the exploits of the national team (although this is more common in football fans).
With a certain segments of competing fanbases, prejudices play their role as well, when for reasons of class or history, they see themselves above South Africans, and being bested by those they look down on causes them considerable discomfort and indigestion.
It’s a strange amalgamation, but it’s definitely real.
Paradoxically, England recognize this experience, as their teams are being sometimes disliked due to historical resentments, if they dare to be successful enough.
That’s one nice strong victim mentality right there.
You can't be serious🤣
I think he is. Why don't you refute him?
Has this article been pinched out of a high school publication? If I were the supporter of the best rugby team in the world, it would definitely be enough to keep me happy. In fact, Ireland are regularly told that our team are cheats, lying all over the rucks, constantly offside and getting all of the favourable decisions from the refs. I remember when we were rubbish and none ofnthe decisions ever seemed to go our way, so I am more than happy to bat away these accusations. It doesn't seem to be enough for you, as you have to go out and seek a chip on your shoulder about an imaginary inequality in the world! Don't forget, most of the criticism was for the 7-1 bench rather than 6-2 and it was a bit arrogant but it worked for SA. I have witnessed 6-2 benches failing miserably for Toulouse in an EPCR SF or even for Scotland this past weekend. So let's put it all into context please.
Let me guess, this journalist is South African 🙄 He must spend all his time thinking about how he can strong arm how brilliant the boks are at this current time. I swear everytime theres something written on Rubypass about the boks its this guy. It's the six nations and he is desperate to talk about the South Aficans somehow, its so boring. It would be great if we could have some unbiased write up on the six nations as apposed to this tripe.
All he’s really asking is why “ Stephen Jones” & the other imbacile Matt Williams not saying anything about the 6 Nation team going for forward heavy benches? Yet the Boks got a mouthful when they did it????
Boks will keep doing it & there is nothing ANYONE can do about it.
RassieNaber analyzed the game way back when and found that the most points are scored during the last quarter, when legs are tired and lungs are bursting - and old heads are required. And, having learned in the military - where they met - that victory or defeat springs from the establishment of an imbalance at the 'Schwerpunkt' of the enemy. That imbalance is de facto the depth that RassieNaber established - that generated the ability to field two international-grade packs. [ originally from bringing overseas players back into contention, but also from the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa.]
We Boere are a stubborn, proud people. We thrive when the world is against us. And the backlash that Rassie received from the video was an artifact of the 'dogma-clinging' Old Guard of World Rugby, where the referees' performance is 'off-limits' in a complex sport with national pride on the line besides personal careers.
In a moment of fresh sanity, go back and review the video, imagine for a minute that a 'Matt Williams' or a 'Jim Hamilton' or a 'Squidge Rugby' had crafted that presentation. 26 clear mistakes by the ref, only a few of which affected the Lions. 16 of which Nic Berry acknowledged. 16 mistakes in an international match. Without a screaming crowd?
Has any other ref in the modern era ever done such a poor job?
And the Boks lost the game, after having thrashed the Lions in the de-facto first test, and followed the defeat with another two victories.
I say that, sans that video, the Boks would have lost the series, because the reffing after that screening was immaculate.
What changed?
The solution is simple. Allow each captain one 'challenge' per half, one they get to keep if it's withheld.
Off the soap box;
Rassie understands the difference between dogma and the rule book. In every one of the 1-point wins in this last World Cup, it was one or two moments of 'dogma-breaking' innovation that won the game - besides bloody-mindedness - that won the Boks the game. The 'scrum from a mark,' [immediately banned by Word Rugby], the charge-down of the conversion, the Etsebeth knock-back ...
Come 2027 the Springboks will have found a different set of innovations, maybe new skills, or reinventing old ones ... maybe flanks that can play 12 and 13 - but, one thing you can put your money on today - the Boks will still be ahead of the rule-makers up north.
The facts around the Rassie video are lost on the peanut gallery.
Rassie was ultimately punished because the video was leaked making it uncomfortable for World Rugby to sweep another sh1t show performance in officiating under the rug.
You’ve hit the nail on the head.
Rassie accepted a 12-month ban for challenging World Rugby and referees, showing they are not beyond dispute for incomprehensibly poor performances. I can’t think of another sport that would have tolerated a performance like Berry’s in that game.
I was going to write a response to try and corral all the usual wrongheadedness in this article and comments as soon as it gets to mention The Video – but now I dont have to. Best comment.
Plus this gem of a battle card I've just synthesised from your comment and that of a detractor: Don't like us winning by making rugby about the entire nation? Want to claim it's boring? Just imagine how boring it's going to get hearing "the more you hate us the better we play, the more you hate us, the better we play, the more, etc. rinse repeat."
Behold a team that knows what it's about. Beat that if you're as confused as everyone but Ireland seems to be atm.
A very good article. We all know what the highest form of flattery is but I agree it sticks in the throat sometimes to acknowledge that when it’s a team you don’t necessarily admire or like the fan base. But I’m not sure it’s only directed at Saffa’s. There is plenty of history amongst the 6N. If England had come up with the bomb squad they too would have been vilified.
This "everyone hate us" mentality is getting so boring! There are several inaccuracies in this article and the overall premise is largely flawed. At least one of the English(?) podcasts had a comment about how it was somewhat nice that the Scotland 6-2 split blew up in their faces. This was not criticism against Scotland as much as against the 6-2 bench.
Ultimate, the 6-2 split is old news and is used so often nowadays that few raise an eyebrow. The comparatively few individuals who had a problem with it were triggered again by the 7-1 bench during the WC but even then it was mostly directed at World Rugby for not changing the rules to stop it. That's not how it's spun in articles of course. SA fans seem to love/hate these kind of everyone hates us articles so journalists will likely persist with them.
Rassie and the Springboks in general are very highly regarded in the north and there is a lot of respect and admiration for what they have achieved.
Finally, to interpret Sheehan's bench role in the first two games as tactical is amusing. I wonder does the author know that he's just back from an ACL injury? Probably conveniently forgotten to suit the agenda.
Well done on proving the article correct. The gracious admission that the reaction has been muted compared to when the Springboks do something would have been a far better reaction. While the excuse that it's now accepted merely proves the outrage was nothing but manufactured hatred.
As for the fans, all other international sides can only dream of the passion they have for their national team, but they're a target of northern hemisphere disdain as well. Just look at the hideous media and fan attention England have had since Saturday for what was merely a flattering result against an unlucky French side. The result could very easily have been another big loss for England.
The author does know this. The author also thinks Sheehan will stay on the bench for the reasons outlined.
Also, that podcast you cited also said that the Scots were copying the Boks.
Great