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'I don't even know if it is smart by Erasmus': Irish scribe questions Springboks' gamble
By Kim Ekin
Australian coach turned Irish rugby pundit Matt Williams caused a stir with his take on the Springboks 7-1 bench split, calling on World Rugby to ban the tactic.
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He believed that the use of the bench went against the original intention of it, which was to provide cover for injured players with trained positional reserves.
Irish scribe, Rúaidhrí O’Connor of the Irish Independent, took another side to the debate on the same OTB Monday Night Rugby show.
O’Connor theorised the experiment was done to “spook the world” ahead of the Rugby World Cup and he believed there was a good possibility they will use the 7-1 split against Ireland should they lock up a quarter-final berth with a win over Scotland.
“They’ve got a chance to absolutely obliterate the world number one side, in their own mind,” O’Connor told the OTB Monday Night Rugby podcast.
“It could completely backfire, in terms of the injuries. We saw a 6-2 split backfire for Toulouse during the European Cup only a couple of months ago.
“Ireland refuse to do it because they are too concerned about what happen if they had backline injuries.
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“But South Africa, I believe they’ve done this, a) to spook the world and b) to see if it would work. It worked.
“Now they were already up by 21-0 at the time they put them all on.”
The Springboks were in the perfect position when the reserve pack was sent in to continue the misery put on the All Blacks, who were down Scott Barrett after a red card late in the first half.
However, O’Connor warned South Africa that the strategy could one day end up backfiring and leave the coaches with egg on their faces so to speak.
“I don’t even know if it is smart by Erasmus, the day it backfires is the day he’ll regret doing it. As long as he’s getting away with it,” he said.
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“He’s got a lot of backline coverage with a scrumhalf on the bench and players who can move positions, but you lose two, does Kwagga Smith go into centre?
“He’s a dynamic player but you’re losing something there.”
South Africa open their campaign with a pool game against Scotland on Sunday the 10th of September.
You can smell the fear
6-2 backfired last year against ABs at Ellis park. 7-1 stands a higher chance of backfiring for sure. At the end of the day its a risk you take. Its the freedom of choice. Very cringe when I hear people talking about banning a legitimate tactic. Do they want to sterilise rugby and make it a sport of sameness or do they want rugby to be a tactical and physical battle of wits and muscle as it should be
Not sure if S A will even bear Ireland. Ireland staying under the radar and letting the lower ranked teams do the silly talking . Rugby has failed if SA keep trying this tactic. It will be some opener. Still between. France & Ireland for the cup
wow twas a warm-up, one of priorities is to give as many as possible a run - we will soon know if its anything more than that, however Boks have the depth and versatility to pull if off - as demonstrated convincingly v ABs
So funny, RE has these ex players and scribes in a tiz. Even switch SK to wing to.
Get over it already. Boks will.do what they do best...but this time with a backline that matches...moody will start at wing...imagine that...with Cheap in, Mipimpi, arendse...all.playing for a position...abundance to talent.
Lemme see....we have a 15 that can play 10, we have a 9 that can play 10, we have a 11 that can play 13, we have a 14 that can play 9 and 15 and we hvve a 10 that can play 15, and if Hendrickse is on the bench, we have a 9 on the bench that played 10 for SA u/20....yah you right, Rassie has missed the plot...PS...Kwagga probably quicker than a few wingers out there..😉
Quick enough to make Papali'i look like a statue.
Absolutely rent free boys, absolutely rent free.
Storm in a tea cup. Rassie has wound them all up and has them second guessing themselves. The 7/1 bench was forced by the late withdrawal of Willie Le Roux. Kwagga Smit able to cover the back line. Reinach has a serious set of wheels - he ran down Roigard from across the field - Roigards momentum finished the try.
South Africa are the only team who can probably be so light on backline replacements and get away with it because their backline players are so versatile and Kwagga Smith can probably defend at 12 and maybe wing in a pinch. When the scrum half get's binned at Smith or Kolbe are playing they don't even bother to use a scrum half replacement. I can't think of another team that can do it other than maybe France when they play Macalou on the bench.
Hilarious that this is still renting space. RE & JN successfully diverted attention away from Manie onto something we’ll most likely never see happen again.
The game is still won and lost up front. Rugby hasn’t changed in that facet for over 100 years and I hope it never turns into a league type game where the tall/skinny and the short/big aren’t welcome.
True that. Yet I've also seen NZ win a lot of games on 40 percent possession. Forwards playing in the backs is an exploitable opportunity.
Man they should just shut up to be honest. And no Kwagga goes to wing on attack, while defending in the centres. These pundits are clueless.