Rassie Erasmus seemed to be a bit annoyed by the latest rumblings about the Springboks’ and the “Bomb Squad”.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont was quoted over the weekend in an interview with The Times saying he is concerned the game is becoming over-reliant on substitutes, specifically referring to the Springboks’ success they they have enjoyed by winning back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles.
Former Scotland coach Matt Williams earlier this year again criticised the make-up of the Springboks’ bench against Ireland, saying it “discriminates against the backline players”.
Williams also had a lot to say about the Springboks 6-2 and 7-1 bench splits in favour of the forwards during the last Rugby World Rugby in France.
💣squad 🤷![CDATA[]]>🏼♂️ Good thing games is won or lost on the field and not in the boardrooms 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 pic.twitter.com/BWL3gtJ8wp
— Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) October 15, 2024
“My view is that we allow too many substitutes,” Beaumont said in the interview.
“I don’t know if I’m looking through rose-coloured spectacles, but in years gone by the game always opened up in the last 20 minutes, and games were often won in the last 20 minutes.
“The Bomb Squad are very effective at what they do, and very successful — they have won two World Cups. I will not criticise that at all, because it suits their game, but maybe they could run for a bit longer and a bit further.”
However, Erasmus hit back with a “REALLY?” meme on X on Tuesday morning, saying: “Good thing games is won or lost on the field and not in the boardrooms.”
It's been a year since Damian Willemse called for the scrum against France in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals 🤜![CDATA[]]>🤛 pic.twitter.com/JCv3uKIrEb
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 15, 2024
Tuesday is also the first anniversary of the Springboks’ epic World Cup quarter-final win over France, which is best remembered for Damian Willemse signalling for scrum after fielding a French kick in his own 22.
In 2024 World Rugby decided to change that law, and teams can no longer opt for a scrum from a free kick.
How long before they decide to to change the laws regarding the use of replacements? It may well be sooner rather than later.
IOL Sport