A group of British and Irish Lions legends want World Rugby to end the era of impact players and finishers by going back to the days of substitutions only for injuries, claiming it will make the game safer.
The signatories to an open letter to World Rugby on the issue include Sir Ian McGeechan, Willie John McBride, Sir Gareth Edwards, Barry John, and John Taylor, according to a report in the UK Telegraph.
They argue it would be “grossly negligent” to continue to allow eight replacements, claiming the risk of injury to players is “unacceptably high” and the game is “unnecessarily dangerous”.
They argue fewer replacements would increase fatigue in the starting XVs and produce less intense and less frequent collisions.
Taniela Tupou has been used as an impact substitute this season. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
They believe it will change the average size of player with a premium on fitness and aerobic capacity rather than size and strength.
“Rugby union was conceived as a 15-a-side game for 30 players. With the current eight substitutes per side, many of whom are tactical ‘impact players’ or ‘finishers’, this can and often does stretch to 46,” the letter reads.
“More than half a team can be changed and some players are not expected to last 80 minutes so train accordingly, prioritising power over aerobic capacity. This shapes the entire game, leading to more collisions and, in the latter stages, numerous fresh ‘giants’ crashing into tiring opponents.
“The simple change we advocate is to allow eight subs on the bench if you must but limit the number that can be used to four and then only in the case of injury. This will make the game safer, a view supported by leading players and eminent members of the medical profession.”
The group accused World Rugby of “doing nothing” after backing a trial for injury-only replacements after World Rugby chief Bill Beaumont voiced his concern the use of eight replacements for tactical reasons had turned the game into one increasingly dominated by “big people… and big hits”.
The Telegraph said the letter also cited the concern of 2017 Lions captain, Sam Warburton, who said he feared that “if something is not done soon, a professional player will die during a game in front of TV cameras”.
“Sadly, more than 18 months later World Rugby has done nothing – yet again it stands accused of all words and no action,” the letter added.
Tactical substitutes were allowed from 1996 in test rugby. Prior to that doctors had to sanction the replacement of injured players.
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
I timed the scrums in a game b/n the All Blacks and Springboks in 1996. They were b/n 12 to 18 seconds to set.
Frank the tank
Roar Rookie
If you want fatigue... STOP THE CLOCK.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
just been watching the RWC1995 Scotland v France online, Cronin tramples all over Accocebery & spits him out the back while Scots prop Peter Wright gets a shredded jersey & a smack in the chops for his troubles. Good times (as long as u aint on the receiving end)
DDSmash
Guest
Brilliant - love this idea. Speed the game up and get rid of pointless backline subs like we saw on Saturday night for the AB's. Great idea and would introduce a dynamic last 10 mins with fatigue kicking in.
Rob9
Roar Guru
TF, the point is- the quality of player. Despite the trend towards big- here’s some fairly average sized blokes (Cam Smith… the Accoutant) who dominated the game through the naughties and teens. Absolutely there are more but let's not go down the path of listing out every NRL player weighing 90kgs and under. The comment was simply a snapshot of these once in a generation players that will go down amongst the greatest of all time despite their size and the era that they played the game in.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
So you named 4 players (and I am sure there are a couple more in your “etc” but that is out of how many teams in the NRL? They are the exception and not the normal. 80’s, 90’s early 2000’s every team had two now there are 4 who you cloud name and all of which are retired.
Philou
Roar Rookie
I understand the sentiment, but it feels like an overcorrect to the 'running rugby' side. Which might take away some enjoyment for those of us in rugby cultures where the trench warfare / power game is valued more. But I do get the safety concerns. Perhaps an easy compromise, just to get the ball rolling, would be to formalize the 5-3 bench split and not allow the 6-2? Then one can start working on variations to that, e.g. that only one prop sub and only two out of the three back subs are allowed to be tactical ones.
sheek
Roar Guru
PeterK, I would rotate the props, one plays 80 minutes this week, the other plays 80 minutes next week. I agree with only using 5 replacements out of 8. Obviously, WR would need to rejig the reasons for replacements, especially injury & moreso blood & head. This is a step in the right direction. Replacing half the team each test is a total nonsense.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
yep... weakling
Rob9
Roar Guru
What’s those criticisms of no original material…. Keep clutching. See ya lightweight
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Oh you probably didn't realize there's another floor... they don't allow you daylight aye Considering Australia's low quality ancestry citing familial relations is not in your best interest...
Greg Shark
Guest
What a load of nonsense. With super subs comes continue intensity and theres no scientific reason why tries should not be scored. Nimble players such as Bok Kolbe are present to attack and will always run around forwards, subbed or on for full game. This notion without scientific back up that subs bring greater probability of injury is simply to negate what works for a specific team. We have seen over the years how some unions promote law changes that suit their style of play and tactics. Had the lions won the Bok series we would not have heard a peep about this. Every team has tactical opportunity so must the game constantly change to suit teams that dont have that option? Laws were amended to use subs to make the game safer. An exhausted / injured player is susceptible to injury not as a result of impact players cos he most likely would be subbed.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Don’t need the gory’s re; what you get up to with your fam. It does make a lot of sense though, a product of 2 relatives. You are from lil ole NZ aren’t you…
J Jones
Roar Rookie
meh lame... If you want my comeback check the sheets upstairs
Rob9
Roar Guru
Shhhhh you don’t have to try anymore. Back under your bridge. Aka the old girls basement. See ya
J Jones
Roar Rookie
blah blah... copy paste... blah blah blah paraphrase... blah blah blah plagiarism. Boring :unhappy:
Rob9
Roar Guru
Calling out ‘passive aggressive’ rhetoric and you come up with this tripe. Yet more beautiful irony that points to the fact you’ve got the self awareness of a doorstop (not to mention the equivalent in comprehension skills). We’ve established your status as an intellectual dwarf through the course of this. With these latest keyboard rantings, there’s little doubt you’d back in the milky dessert to hold onto its skin if it ever came across you.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
:laughing: as of yet you've not conveyed a thought of your own... so meek and weak the best you can do is to imitate... my guess is lots of alcohol in your past... especially the first nine months.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Wow. Are you actually all there? ‘so tired now the best you can muster is copying and pasting… Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness – so I should be flattered I guess…’ It was copy and pasted in quotes to demonstrate the beautiful irony of your best attempt at a ‘zinger’. True to form… you still miss it. Back to the kiddy pool now bud, you could not be further out of your depth here.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
yep passive aggressive… the default setting of the weak sheesh so tired now the best you can muster is copying and pasting… Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness – so I should be flattered I guess…