{"id":290750,"date":"2023-08-29T13:36:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T13:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=290750"},"modified":"2023-08-29T13:36:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T13:36:05","slug":"south-africa-accused-of-abusing-the-bench-in-record-all-blacks-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/south-africa-accused-of-abusing-the-bench-in-record-all-blacks-win\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa accused of \u2018abusing the bench\u2019 in record All Blacks win"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Africa thrashed New Zealand in their final <\/p>\n

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Former Scotland rugby coach Matt Williams has accused South Africa rugby of \u201cabusing the bench\u201d after the Springboks used seven forwards as replacements in their win over New Zealand.<\/p>\n

The Springboks laid down a marker ahead of the Rugby World Cup with a commanding victory at Twickenham, with the All Blacks suffering a record 35-7 defeat after Scott Barrett\u2019s sending off.<\/p>\n

The conventional bench split in rugby has been five forwards to three backs since an extra replacement was added to a matchday squad before the autumn of 2012.<\/p>\n

South Africa, however, most often employ a six to two split, favouring an extra forward and trusting their backline versatility. Head coach Jacques Nienaber had initially selected two backs on the bench for his side\u2019s final warm-up game, but after Willie le Roux was forced to withdraw with a niggle, back rower Kwagga Smith, a former sevens star, was called on to the bench.<\/p>\n

Williams, who coached Scotland between 2003 and 2005, has urged World Rugby to act on what he perceives as an abuse of the replacement system.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe South Africans are just abusing the bench at the moment,\u201d Williams told Off the Ball\u2019s Monday Night Rugby.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe bench [orignially] came in all for safety reasons. People didn\u2019t come on for positions they weren\u2019t trained for so we weren\u2019t putting back rowers in the front row. Everything was done for a reason.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had seven forwards [against New Zealand]. Seven forwards\u2026 really? Seriously? <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd World Rugby has just got to act on this. The way you fix it is say you must have three recognised backs on your bench. And that stops it. But right now South Africa just change the whole pack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australian Williams was sacked by Scotland in 2005 having won just three of his 17 games in charge.<\/p>\n

South Africa open the defence of their World Cup crown against the Scots in Marseille on Sunday 10 September.<\/p>\n

The impact of the Springboks\u2019 bench forwards, nicknamed the \u201cBomb Squad\u201d, was key to their 2019 triumph, ensuring that there was little drop off when replacements were used in the second half.<\/p>\n

Yet Williams believes Nienaber\u2019s side could come unstuck this time around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1999 when the Wallabies won the World Cup I was coaching the Waratahs,\u201d Williams explained. \u201c[Australia] had one tighthead prop, who did the whole tournament. We were one injury away from disaster.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo win you\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nienaber admitted that the seven\/one split had been a gamble after Friday\u2019s win, suggesting that he was unlikely to utilise the bench blend during the World Cup but not entirely ruling it out. <\/p>\n

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\u201cThe 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,\u201d Nienaber said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is something that we train for, with certain forwards to fulfill some roles in backline play. We have to plan for those scenarios with all the yellow cards that go around these days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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