‘Ban Bok Bomb Squad,’ begs Welshman
‘It’s time to outlaw South Africa’s dangerous, arrogant Bomb Squad,’ says Stephen Jones.
A rugby scribe from the United Kingdom is leading renewed calls for World Rugby to outlaw the Springboks’ Bomb Squad.
In his latest column for the Times, veteran rugby journalist Stephen Jones wrote that it is high time World Rugby sets plans in place to outlaw one of Springboks’ biggest tactical weapons: the feared bomb squad.
South Africa used a seven-one split between forwards and backs in the World Cup final against New Zealand in Paris, allowing the Springboks to essentially bring on a fresh pack in the second half; and while they have used the same bench tactic in Tests earlier this year, these renewed calls to bin the bomb squad comes in the wake of the Boks’ solid triumph over Scotland, which was manufactured by the very same 7-1 bomb squad bench.
JONES WANTS WORLD RUGBY TO ABOLISH BOK BOMB SQUAD
“As usual, the Springboks ‘bomb squad’ had arrived, giants replacing the giants,” Jones wrote. “They usually restrict the replacements to small numbers at any one moment, but this time they went full bomb. Scotland, with fewer monsters, actually stuck to their task amazingly well and at one stage in the second half were even contending. But in the end, the match sank for them into the vice-like grip of fresh giants.
“It was during the 2019 Rugby World Cup that the Springbok replacements were first called the ‘bomb squad’,” Jones continued, referring to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. “They never came on in a single wave but they had developed two great players for each position, which is vastly to their credit.”
SPRINGBOK CAMP BRANDED AS ARROGANT
Jones took particular aim at the Springbok coaching philosophy, labeling it as “arrogant” and criticising Erasmus.
“No doubt the actions of Erasmus were arrogant as well. He has enough resources to afford arrogance. The Boks are an unlovely bunch to outsiders, Erasmus himself having been given bans for criticising referees.
“But there is still an opportunity for sanity,” Jones added. “They must change. Even professional teams should only be allowed four forward replacements, and one back. This would still allow safety up front (only seasoned props should prop) and would allow rugby to redevelop that wonderful type of player, the utility back, who could play in several positions.”
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