A decision by world rugby bosses not to outlaw an innovative 7/1 forward-orientated bench split is another triumph for Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who pioneered the revolutionary tactic.
Despite opposition from several quarters, World Rugby decided last week that a distinct forward-heavy bench did not carry inherent dangers for players.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said there was no reason to look at doing replacements differently, and there were also a lot of ways to win a rugby match.
An innovative Erasmus turned the rugby world on its head when he first used the ploy at the 2019 World Cup.
That was the start of what many termed a new era for the modern game.
It also gave birth to the now universally-known phrase “Bomb Squad” in which powerful replacement forwards replace those who started the game to give the Boks fresh impetus.
Encouraged by his initial success, Erasmus used the tactic liberally during the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, most notably against Ireland in the pool stage and the All Blacks in the final in France.
Having seen the benefits of the tactic, France coach Fabian Galthie followed Erasmus' blueprint and successfully deployed a bomb squad during three Six Nations matches.
Not everyone, however, is a fan of the loaded bench split.
World Rugby chair Brett Robinson said the 7/1 split raised questions over the spirit of the game, but there was no scientific evidence to ban it from the sport.
Erasmus says that when he first used the split, it was a calculated risk.
He said he was always frustrated when he had a reserve backline player on the bench with five minutes left, and he did not get any game time.
The Bok coach said he regarded it as a waste of a position that would only be used in the event of an injury.
He made up his mind after he counted the number of matches the Boks played when they never used the last replacement, and that convinced him to make the move.
Given his ability to think out of the box, fans will expect more surprises from SA's master tactician.
The Herald
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