SAINT ETIENNE – The Springboks’ use of the bench against the All Blacks last week might have come under fire from some sections, but the defending world champions have found a supporter in Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.
It came after the Springboks selected seven forwards on their eight-man bench, with loose-forward Kwagga Smith a late replacement for fullback Willie le Roux. It left halfback Cobus Reinach as the only back on Jacques Nienaber’s bench.
“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 come on in positions they weren’t trained for; were weren’t putting back-rowers in the front-row.
“They had seven off the bench. Seven forwards, really, seriously? World Rugby’s got to act on this.”
Eddie Jones says the Springboks’ innovation to the bench has to be applauded. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Williams doubled down on his stance on Tuesday, saying South Africa had “abused player safety issue and put a whole pack on the bench” and claimed it was a “blight on the game”.
He added: “What South Africa did, the other day, is totally against the spirit of the game and certainly totally against player safety.”
Jones disagreed.
Asked what the next step was, Jones, who has twice selected six forwards on his bench this year, once where the decision came back to bite them against Argentina, quipped that eight forwards will be chosen on the bench.
“Well, the next step’s eight-zero,” Jones said, shortly after the Wallabies’ first open training session at the Stade Roger Baudras just outside Saint Etienne.
“Again, tradition says five-three, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. Is seven-one right, or eight-zero right? If you’re going to play a heavily dominant forward game, why wouldn’t you have more forward players on your bench?
“The world’s changing. The game of rugby’s changing. The way it’s refereed is changing. The way it’s officiated off the field is changing. It’s just the sign of the times.”
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has tipped his hat at the Springboks’ innovation. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Jones has previously advocated for less replacements to bring back fatigue in the game.
But the respected rugby figure didn’t want to engage on whether World Rugby should look at the issue on the eve of the tournament, but said the Springboks’ innovation had to be applauded.
“It doesn’t really interest me because we’re playing a World Cup and I’m not going to change the replacement rules before the World Cup,” he said.
“We’ve just got to try to maximize it.
“We [previously] played with Japan against Georgia in the last warm-up game [in 2015] with nine forwards, six backs. So who says you’ve got to have forwards and seven backs? You don’t have to. That’s what tradition tells us.
“There’s different ways to play the game, and I applaud South Africa for being so bold and courageous in the way they wanted to play the game. That’s great innovation.”
Inspired? Not in the slightest.
“Well, it doesn’t inspire me,” he shot back to one local reporter.
“South Africans don’t inspire me, as much as I admire them.”
Former Wallabies star and three-time World Cup member Drew Mitchell agreed: “I can’t understand the uproar over the Springboks’ 7-1 bench,” he tweeted.
“You play to your strengths, SA did that! Find a way to beat it, not complain.”
The Wallabies held an open training session on Thursday at their training base just outside Saint Etienne.
Jones, who has several players including props James Slipper and Pone Fa’amausili under injury clouds, said the Wallabies were on track for their opening World Cup fixture against Georgia on September 9 at the Stade de France in Paris.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
That sounds amazing and thank you for sharing. THAT is the stuff that tends not to make the highlight feels or sound bite click bait journalism, but is really what rugby is about. At least for a lot of people.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Not just that Kev it discredits and undermines those who genuinely care and campaign lucidly , honestly and intelligently for increased player safety..Geoff Parkes here on The Roar just one example..
NotKev
Roar Rookie
That last sentence says so much JN !!!!
NotKev
Roar Rookie
To your point I alwasy thought Benji Marshal was hard done by the NRL as awesome a player as he was but playing a final for Wests back in the day at what 18 or 20 I think... the following year he gets his first shoulder surgery ..... i like you thinking Blikkies
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Tbe greatest achievemen of SA Rugby post apartheid is not the 3 World Cups ..Sure that leaves a nice feelin for a week or two but anyway quickly fades with the first loss . It has been how the majority of South Africans have embraced the Bokke and rugby as a sport. I live near Thembisa , a sprawling township in Joburg . So white faces are rare . Monday wore my Bok shirt to the mall. Man I was quite the celebrity with shouts of Amaboke Bokke ! Ringing . Black South Africans uninhibited when verbally expressing themselves . Given the history its a sensational achievement by rugby . And it leaves a lasting feel good effect . In the township schools its well documented that rugby is now the fastest growing sport leaving serious challenges to provide coaching and facilities..Rugby is sexy..Rassie more than any single person is responsible for this . Although the 7s team must take credit too.
James584
Roar Rookie
Anyone who goes out purposely trying to injure an opposition player is a disgrace and should be banned for life.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
But you need 500mins before you're ready JN.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies would be better off with 8 forwards on the bench, they get tired out and it goes downhill from there.
CoxC
Roar Rookie
All blacks doing a 3/5 split v Springboks 8/0. Who will be better off?
Andrew
Roar Rookie
But how is having an additional 95kg forward such a safety risk? "Player safety" just seems to be a convenient excuse which doesnt hold up to scrutiny.
CoxC
Roar Rookie
The Aussies could be sitting pretty at the business end. So why not throw an early challenge and call their bluff?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
While I’m not necessarily a fan of his, I can certainly respect how much he has innovated on and off the field and put back into SA rugby at many levels. It’s up to WR to change things - for the RIGHT reasons. Or everyone else gets better. When the ABs were dominant, it was when we were ahead of the innovation curve. The adage, ‘when you’re on top of your game, change your game’ was taken seriously.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
it just goes to show how slow and ponderous the Rugby Union game has become.. That is why it is dying in Australia and Rugby League is thriving..
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Noise…it is just noise…
James in NZ
Roar Rookie
I hope we avoid them in the quarters.
CoxC
Roar Rookie
Next thing you know, they will play a no8 at scrumhalf
CoxC
Roar Rookie
Bliksem, that Williams guy just caused a whole lotta just nuisance!
CoxC
Roar Rookie
I working off the slightest of memory here (you can help me out), but back when the Boks had that 15/16 game steak with Mallet in charge, Mallet said something about a new name in the Bok team during the Northern tour, something to the effect of: Despite of his size I have to have Rassie Erasmus in my team as he is the most intelligent rugby player I have come across.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Agreed . The argument that a player who is less fatigued is more likely to get or cause an injury than a tired player is just total and utter rank BS . It is not supported by research .On the contrary actually . Whats happening is that those with ulterior motives are hiding behind the ." I care about player safety" to add legitimacy to their argument which otherwise would fall flat under proper analysis and scrutiny .
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Rassies entire career has been about breaking conventions . Even as a player he started doing different stuff on the field leading sometimes to clashes with his coaches ..His early coaching days he sat on the roof of the stadium with bright flash cards denoting varies plays to the team . Was the first to go to a 6 to 2 bench split which is now commonly used by other sides . Its just how he is and I dont see him stopping now .