Former Leinster and Scotland coach Matt Williams has called on World Rugby to step in and ensure the integrity of the game isn’t compromised by teams stacking benches with forwards.
The Australian’s comments came after Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber shocked the world last week when he named seven forwards on his eight-man interchange bench for last Friday’s 35-7 demolition of the All Blacks at Twickenham.
After a late niggle forced fullback Willie le Roux to miss the Test, Nienaber brought loose-forward Kwagga Smith onto the bench.
It meant the world champions included seven forwards instead of six, with halfback Cobus Reinach the sole back included.
The Springboks’ decision to play seven forwards off the bench against the All Blacks at Twickenham has come under fire. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Nienaber, who won the World Cup under Rassier Erasmus in 2019, said the fact his non-23 matchday squad had enjoyed different programs ahead of the World Cup meant he didn’t want to rush in a back to compromise their health and plans moving forward.
While Nienaber acknowledged it was a risk going into a match with only one back, nor did he dismiss the possibility of using the tactic again.
“The least risk for a bench is a 5-3 split to cover the most positions. 7-1 is a big risk, and we were fortunate tonight we did not get any backline injuries,” Nienaber said.
“It is something that we train for, with certain forwards to fulfil some roles in backline play. We have to plan for those scenarios with all the yellow cards that go around these days.”
The 2019 World Cup became synonymous with Erasmus’ use of his Springboks bench, with the world champions using to great effect their “bomb squad” of forwards.
Scenes of Nienaber deploying several players at once early in the second half during Friday’s thumping win over the All Blacks, which was set up by their 14-0 lead at half-time, once again raised eyebrows of not just the Springboks’ extraordinary depth but the trajectory of rugby, too.
The unusual configuration of the bench came three months after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones quipped on The Roar rugby podcast that he might have seven forwards on a bench.
Jacques Nienaber (L) has seven forwards to bring off his bench against the All Blacks at Twickenham on August 25. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Since then, Jones has twice gone into matches with six forwards on his bench.
Not that it’s always worked out for Jones.
Against Argentina in July that decision came back to haunt the Wallabies, with no specialist centre able to cover the injury absence of Len Ikitau.
Similarly, Jones’ decision to go in without a centre replacement somewhat was exposed when Lalakai Foketi was forced from the field to go undergo a Head Injury Assessment. It meant fly-half Carter Gordon had to shift to inside centre.
Williams, who coached the Waratahs and Leinster as well as Scotland, hit out at Nienaber’s decision to include seven forwards and said it should raise concerns within the World Rugby corridors in Dublin.
The Australian’s premise was that replacing virtually the entire pack compromised not only the integrity of the game but also contradicted why World Rugby initially increased the amount of reserves too.
“It does concern you, especially when you look at the way the South Africans are abusing the bench at the moment,” Williams told the Off the Ball’s Monday Night Rugby program.
“The bench came in for safety reasons, so that people didn’t come on in positions they weren’t trained for so we didn’t have injuries; we weren’t putting back-rowers in the front-row, everything was done for a reason.
“They had seven off the bench. Seven forwards, really, seriously? World Rugby’s got to act on this.
“The way you fix it, you must have three recognised backs on the bench. But right now, South Africa just change the whole team, the whole pack, and if they do that and we’re [Ireland] not up to scratch, we’ve got some players, they’ll be found out.
“South Africa’s tactics are obvious now what they’re going to do, and we have to be ready for it.”
Former Scotland head coach Matt Williams has questioned South Africa’s tactics and called on World Rugby to ensure benches aren’t stacked. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Jones has previously called on World Rugby to reduce the number of players on the bench, saying fatigue was not only a positive for the overall spectacle but meant players, who played the entire match, were less likely to be left in compromising positions against fresh players as a result of less numbers on the bench.
“I’d only have six reserves and I reckon that’d make a hell of a difference,” he said, listing cover for all three front-row positions, another forward for the back five, and two for the backline.
“That would introduce some fatigue into the game.”
Williams added that the Springboks, who are one of this year’s World Cup favourites, were running the gauntlet if they didn’t include more cover in the backs.
“In 1999 when the Wallabies won the World Cup I was coaching the Waratahs,” Williams said.
“[Australia] had one tight-head prop, who did the whole tournament. We were one injury away from disaster.
“To win you’ve got to have luck going your way too. South Africa are walking a tightrope, if they get an injury in the backline, it could come back to get them.”
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Agreed. I played in the middle of the front row many decades ago. I would now be deemed too small/light to play at #2 - I would hardly qualify for half back ????
scrum
Roar Rookie
Yeah but very rarely does the FR play 80. I find it amusing the comments that game is going soft - “ playing touch rugby”. The game is far more challenging physically than it has ever been. It’s like the crackdown on high tackles, shoulder charges- “ it’s not tiddlywinks “. I suggest those initiating those comments would probably not survive one legal high impact tackle in the modern game.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
@scrum, you have missed my sarcasm - so many posts about making the game safer…… This is a contact sport after all, the battle of fittest and most physical. I don’t believe that front rows “train for a 40-60 minute game, they train for a +80 minute - all part of risk management by coaches.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Get real.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
You know Brett, I run a squad of 12-13 forwards in me 4ths at school. Every player gets equal playing time for a number of reasons; It’s schoolboys, They all train equally, It helps maintain interest in the game which I hope translates into enjoyment and involvement in grassroots club rugby when they leave school. But internationals are not about developing players or grassroots rugby. In fact, everything from club 1st grade up should be injury replacement only. But I guess you already knew that.
RetiredRef
Roar Rookie
Good observations. Personally I would like to see them get rid of tactical substitutions altogether; then lets see how well teams comprised of mountainous slabs of meat cope with 80minutes of modern rugby. The game is meant to be for players of all sizes after all.
Armadillo
Roar Rookie
The Springboks focus on their forte, which is a dominant forward pack, to create opportunities for their back line to go on the offensive. Was the game less entertaining because of a 7-1 bench split? It's difficult to say it was anything less than a riveting showdown, especially considering it's part of the most storied rivalry in rugby. The arguments around safety and what sort of spectacle do we want to see is a furphy and have more to do with — ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, change the rules.’
Brett305
Roar Rookie
Spot on…their is no fatigue in the game, one giant gets tired, just run out a fresh giant, seven times if you like..
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
I like suggestions of Perthstayer and Footy Franks. I would hope World Rugby give this a thought. Most here are not on SA's case like Matt Williams, in fact more "these are the rules and teams will do what they like with risk". However, in agreement with most, less replacements would make a better game opening it up and removing fresh players against tired players causing less injuries. Interesting points of view - the interchange is possibly taking from the game we love. Have rules like so many reserves crept in with us not thinking or seeing the game change - desensitized to not evaluate? Has someone made changes in rugby without anyone ever challenging the term it was under such as "H&S" - oh that dreaded term in sport. World rugby foremost need to make a game flow more for entertainment of fans - this is another area they can perhaps look at to increase game flow. Another element is it might make more squads and teams smaller which costs less to their unions on travel, supplies and care etc. thus making the game more profitable in the professional arena it is.
scrum
Roar Rookie
More foul play for sure but nowhere near the power and strength involved in the collisions. Was the odd big hit but overall a lot less impact in the collisions in past days. There is no doubt that the game is way more physical than in the past.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Something in this - well put Perthstayer.
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
It’s a great thing about The Roar that your average rugby punter can express an opinion - you, me, Matt Williams. Granted I never coached the teams he did, but I’d wager my results would have been equal or better.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Of course not. Most people saw this as a valid option. He was in the noisy majority
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Well not everyone in Ireland agrees with Williams, Bernard Jackman former Ireland hooker thinks its great and enjoyed the creativity. I did think it was fairly forward dominant alright. I dont have strong feelings on the subject really, enjoy a good mix of forward and backs elements.
USrugger
Roar Rookie
Rugby has many facets. That's what makes it so interesting. I often get the feeling that some commentators here would like to see a flag-football type game of rapid movement, light defense and massive scores - so-called ball-in-play. That's not rugby union. For many - most? -of us, every part of the game is entertaining. I love the set pieces, even the silly delaying games. Rolling mauls? All day long, please. I love watching them succeed & love strategies to defeat them. Kicking? Fantastic. Unlocking defenses? Fascinating. I get warm & fuzzy just thinking about it. And, naturally, those poetic backline moves, flashes of genius (al a Finn), add spice to the main course. (Yes, we're all sometimes disappointed, but that's sports!)
USrugger
Roar Rookie
...or falling flat before the first scrum. I see you, Dwayne!
USrugger
Roar Rookie
Not sure where the 'cheats' are? Surely a bench of 8 can be spread any way a coach wants. It's a tactical gamble. I could see it going horribly pear-shaped. (Just ask Eddie.) Also, the Boks have been doing 6-2 for a while. It hasn't necessarily given them a better win ratio. Methinks changing to 3-2 would not change the challenge. 3 front row & 1 hybrid & one specialist 9/10/15. As is happening right now, many 6s & 7s can slot in both as 2nd row or back row. Why not test? The better coaches WILL adapt.
USrugger
Roar Rookie
Good points. Of course, the issue/challenge arises that, notwithstanding South Africa's monster-forward sturm und drang, they also have some of the most dynamic small men in rugby. Cheslin Kolbe. Kurt-Lee Arendse. Faf de Klerk (80kgs wet!) I'd even include Kwagga Smith (as a 'small' forward, & ex-7s exponent). The brilliance of their 7-1 experiment, with a Kwagga, is the hybrid nature of aforementioned Kwagga. It effectively makes it 6-2 or 7-1, which gives some cover for a backline catastrophe. Personally, I find all this scheming & conniving (& Erasmus is a master conniver!) fascinating. Just look at the breathtaking, energetic response to E's latest 'madness'. Look how much fun we're having...
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
100% agree. I'll make the exception for a failed HIA.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
I only replied coz you said why did Scotland hire him. But his troughs were deep!