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'It's not against the laws' - 7-1 row explodes as ex-coach brands tactic immoral
By Ian Cameron
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has once again defended his use of the controversial 7-1 split at his latest press conference, as critics brand the tactic as potentially dangerous.
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Nienaber once again rolled out the 7-1 split for South Africa’s crunch match with Ireland in Pool B, an unorthodox ratio that is a world away from the average 5-3 forwards versus back split that most international sides plump for.
The Leinster-bound Springboks boss insists there is nothing illegal about the risky innovation, despite the whinging of some critics.
Former Scotland coach turned pundit Matt Williams has gone as far as branding the move as borderline immoral, suggesting it could put players in danger.
“Is it legal? Yes. Is it smart rugby for the World Cup? I’ve got to say yes. Is it good tactics? Yes. But it is not morally correct?” asked Williams on a Virgin Media podcast. “What I’m saying is that if lower levels of the game copy the Springboks, and they will, there are props and second rowers playing in lower levels of the game. If they are fatigued and the opposition bring on seven fresh forwards and they go for a scrum later on in the game knowing they could get a penalty and win the game, those guys’ spines are in danger.
“I will not be quiet, because I’ve seen it. All of us that have seen it first hand have a responsibility to remind the next generation to not go back there.”
Nienber batted away any suggestions that the decision was anything but an innovation within the rules of the game.
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“I think if there is innovation in any sport it gets reaction, positive or negative. This is obviously unique, it is the first time a team has named seven forwards and one back on the bench so that is why I would say it’s innovation. That will get 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 was also quizzed on which he picked first, his bench or his starting fifteen.
“That’s a tough one,” said Nienaber. “In our team, because I don’t know other teams, our bench isn’t necessarily what I would call a bench. 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.
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“This is an important game and we all know when we came into this pool, everyone knew this would be a tough pool to get out of. From the first game against Scotland there was massive pressure and then Romania and now Ireland and then there is still Tonga.
“A win for us or for them will put you in a good position to get out of the pool and that is why there is pressure. But that was there when the World Cup started. So it doesn’t actually change for us personally because the pressure was set, we said we are playing knock-out rugby from game one. Nothing has changed from game one.”
I had a vision that Ireland will win the battle but loose the war ,final Boks Vs Irish,Boks Victory get back to me when it's done Bennie boy
Theres nothing unfair about this. If you haven't got 14 forwards that are all world class, tough break, thats sport. Find another way to win. Ridiculous. Its like saying you can only bring on replacements who are not as good as your starters. Ludicrous
The 7-1 split is within the laws and regulations of world rugby, stop complaining.
Ireland (and others), cannot even field a team of locally born players needing to buy overseas players in order to remain competitive. Take these guys out of the team and see how you fare....
Finlay Bealham (Australia), Rob Herring (South Africa), Jeremy Loughman (USA), Joe McCarthy (USA), Bundee Aki (New Zealand), Jamison Gibson-Park (New Zealand), Mack Hansen (Australia), James Lowe (New Zealand)
Joe McCarthy!!! 🤣
If Ireland did “buy” him then they got a bloody good deal because they also got his exceptionally talented younger brother thrown in!!
Their mother is from Cashel and their Dad is from Cork. His Dad was working for an Irish bank in New York when Joe was born but they moved home soon after. His entire rugby education and development happened in Ireland.
Bought!! 🤣👍
Those running world rugby are a pack of scared rats, and cowards to say to South Africa that the reserve bench is, and should a 5/3 split, 5 forwards, 3 backs. South Africa have always been known as bullie's, and bullie's shouldn't be allowed in sports, as it isn't allowed anywhere else in society.
Oh god. What a ridiculous comment.
It will be an interesting game,and I'm pretty sure that in the unfortunate event of two backline injuries, that Kwagga is not just going to slot into the backline and lean on his sevens experience. I'm pretty sure that he has been practising on centre and wing since February and that he would be fully aware of the defence structure and the backline gameplay to slot right in. He has the speed and the tackling skills that would be required if needed. I personally think that this was not a quick juggle before the NZ game and this was a long term well prepared plan since at least February.
Matt Williams comments about safety are purely opinion not backed up by data.
I'd like to see only three replacements.
How often are there more than three injuries in a game? Having three subs means you have plenty of injury cover, but that you're still going to finish the game with lots of tired bodies and most likely a couple of guys playing out of position, which would be a great recipe for some end-to-end exciting rugby.
Having 8 substitutes not only increases injury risk, but also turns the game into something resembling american football moreso than it resembles amateur-era rugby union. That's not the game I want to see but its the game we've got, and South Africa are well within their rights to exploit that. Regardless of ruleset, I'll always be a fan of different teams taking radically different tactical approaches!
Back in the day there were less replacements allowed than now. Then you had to have a full front row on the bench, and they increased it to 8 for safety.
Yes, Mat. I presume the bigger players should not be allowed to play either, should you insist on absolute safety. Perhaps we should forget about scrums and tackling.
Matt Williams. Soon you will tell us to ban Fijians because they so big and dangerous
You got it so wrong, it’s the versatility of the Bok players that allows them to do a 7-1 split. There are two replacement forwards that can slot in at the backline any time of the day and will at least perform a defensive role with ease, namely Kwagga Smith and Deon Fourie.
Versatility is the new name of the game!!
Hallelujah.
Oh Matt Williams - so full of his righteous anger - what was his win rate with Scotland - let's guess - it was 17% - that's right 17% - played 17 games and won only 3. Its terrible when you have yesterdays failure, so critical of todays winners and all because of petty jealousy. Just because he wasnt capable of thinking innovatively - he has to character assassinate those who do. Isn't it sad. Someone should tell him that bitterness literally kills.
It's not like this doesn't have risks. It could lose them the World Cup. A yellow card, and injury or two, and now you've got two loose forwards playing in the midfield for 60 minutes, or wingers in midfield and loosies in the back 3. Lots of ways this can go wrong. Ireland will be targeting the 12/13 channel with short passes hoping for some head contact from a loose arm.
I would tend to agree with him. We've got 3 front row replacements because of the injury risk. What's the point of having a 80 min game if you bring on players half way through. I'd lik
e to see only 4 forward replacements, with three of them being front row so the 4th one needs to cover all the forward positions
I don’t follow. Have the boks got 4 props and 2 hookers on the bench? Or a front row just like the Irish bench?
Given that all teams have a replacement front row in their benches, we’re talking about the composition of the other 5 players on the bench.
I think Jacque and Rassie should say fuck it and go with an 8/0 with 4 props against Tonga. End this noise about nothing. Marco and Deon - we can see three front row changes in the game. Kwagga and Mostert to cover everything else. Kick for goal too.
He has got nothing better to do than actually say a lot about nothing...
This is innovation, this changes things for all teams because now they take risks especially when Mino teams play against T1 nations, that will cause an upset one day.
Maybe Australia should play with a bench of 1-7, having an extra bench of backliners will allow the 2nd half team to run at full speed.
What an absolute brain-dead idiot. It is no wonder that he is the worst head-coach that Scotland has ever had.