It seems the curtains have finally closed on the Springboks' notorious 7-1 bench strategy, all thanks to a refreshing twist brought by Tony Brown. This once celebrated, now controversial tactic has been shelved, with no tears shed at its funeral, according to Rassie Erasmus' top critic, Matt Williams.
The former Scotland coach, known for his unapologetic candor, has been a vocal opponent of South Africa's "bomb squad" approach, criticizing it as not only against the spirit of the game but also as a slight against backline players. On the DSPN podcast, Williams expressed his pleasure over the new developments, saying,
"The 7-1 bench has quietly died. Thank God. No one went to a wake, and no one is saying, ‘Isn’t that sad?’"
He praised the Boks for showcasing "extraordinary rugby" and tapping into the vast pool of talent and athleticism within their ranks.
Williams attributed this seismic shift in play style to Brown's influence on Erasmus, hinting that the recent thrashing of the All Blacks by 43-10 in Wellington was a testament to this strategic evolution. "Unfortunately, New Zealand saw that the other week," he remarked, suggesting a silver lining for the New Zealand team despite the blow to their Bledisloe Cup aspirations.
Looking ahead, Williams predicts that the Wallabies might be on the receiving end of a fierce comeback at Eden Park, given their historical struggles there. He expressed, "It’s been that long since they won there… there’s going to be a bit of a backlash. And so it should be. That’s the way the game’s going. But I think all of this is really, really positive." He views this trend as part of a broader shift towards more dynamic, attacking rugby globally, moving away from an over-reliance on set-piece and defensive strategies.
As the game evolves, it seems clear that rugby fans can expect more open play and fewer tactical gimmicks. With thinkers like Tony Brown influencing strategies, the future of rugby looks not just promising but downright exhilarating.
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It seems the curtains have finally closed on the Springboks' notorious 7-1 bench strategy, all thanks to a refreshing twist brought by Tony Brown. This once celebrated, now controversial tactic has been shelved, with no tears shed at its funeral, according to Rassie Erasmus' top critic, Matt Williams.
The former Scotland coach, known for his unapologetic candor, has been a vocal opponent of South Africa's "bomb squad" approach, criticizing it as not only against the spirit of the game but also as a slight against backline players. On the DSPN podcast, Williams expressed his pleasure over the new developments, saying,
"The 7-1 bench has quietly died. Thank God. No one went to a wake, and no one is saying, ‘Isn’t that sad?’"
He praised the Boks for showcasing "extraordinary rugby" and tapping into the vast pool of talent and athleticism within their ranks.Williams attributed this seismic shift in play style to Brown's influence on Erasmus, hinting that the recent thrashing of the All Blacks by 43-10 in Wellington was a testament to this strategic evolution. "Unfortunately, New Zealand saw that the other week," he remarked, suggesting a silver lining for the New Zealand team despite the blow to their Bledisloe Cup aspirations.
Looking ahead, Williams predicts that the Wallabies might be on the receiving end of a fierce comeback at Eden Park, given their historical struggles there. He expressed, "It’s been that long since they won there… there’s going to be a bit of a backlash. And so it should be. That’s the way the game’s going. But I think all of this is really, really positive." He views this trend as part of a broader shift towards more dynamic, attacking rugby globally, moving away from an over-reliance on set-piece and defensive strategies.
As the game evolves, it seems clear that rugby fans can expect more open play and fewer tactical gimmicks. With thinkers like Tony Brown influencing strategies, the future of rugby looks not just promising but downright exhilarating.