RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
Gee there's a lot of talk about the Bok bench.
I'm interested in Keith's belief that this might drive a change to a smaller bench. Not going to lie, that would be my preferred option. Hopefully this helps drive the ridiculousness of the current rule.
I do like the idea of a smaller bench, but more the idea of fewer changes. Have X on the bench but only X-3 allowed on. Exception, front row which means someone else must go off and you play with 14 or less if you go over quota. Could be nasty, but games have been finished with 14 due to injuries and cleared benches before
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@Machpants said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
Gee there's a lot of talk about the Bok bench.
I'm interested in Keith's belief that this might drive a change to a smaller bench. Not going to lie, that would be my preferred option. Hopefully this helps drive the ridiculousness of the current rule.
I do like the idea of a smaller bench, but more the idea of fewer changes. Have X on the bench but only X-3 allowed on. Exception, front row which means someone else must go off and you play with 14 or less if you go over quota. Could be nasty, but games have been finished with 14 due to injuries and cleared benches before
Yes - you must be punished if you fail to maintain a contest at the set piece.
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
@Machpants said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
Gee there's a lot of talk about the Bok bench.
I'm interested in Keith's belief that this might drive a change to a smaller bench. Not going to lie, that would be my preferred option. Hopefully this helps drive the ridiculousness of the current rule.
I do like the idea of a smaller bench, but more the idea of fewer changes. Have X on the bench but only X-3 allowed on. Exception, front row which means someone else must go off and you play with 14 or less if you go over quota. Could be nasty, but games have been finished with 14 due to injuries and cleared benches before
Yes - you must be punished if you fail to maintain a contest at the set piece.
And because you could easily end u with 14, you would have a lot less pre planned changes. It would be risky to use all your changes ala Boks at half time
e.g. Bench = 7 allows for Front row, + 2 forwards +2 backs (but mix and match outside of front row)
4 changes allowed
EDIT: or 8 and 5 changes. whatever, just not 8 with the entire forward pack being changed at half time -
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Does anyone have stats on how often >1 back gets injured per game? I can only assume SA know this and let’s say the odds are 5-10% you then weigh up the benefit of 2 full forward packs pretty much going hard for 40 minutes each.
Ultimately it’s a gamble but what this does say is SA don’t really think impact backs have that much value in the current test meta but the forwards do.
I have to admit I largely agree, there are not many ABs back reserves that are better than the starters that can turn the game. Maybe DMac as a point of difference but really I have long wondered if the back reserves actually add impact or simply hinder the cohesiveness.
Of course BB of old and a few others used to but with Forwards now dominating the game I applaud SA for playing to their strengths.
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@Halfout said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
Everyone is focusing on the possibility of them losing a back, but what happens if they replace all but one of their pack and then lose a couple of forwards in the second half. Do they pull the old blood or HIA stroke, or do they stick a back in there?
That could happen with a 6-2 as they like to change the whole lot at once
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@Derm-McCrum said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
I read in Irish media this morning there's a possibility that van der Flier may be dropped to the bench in favour of Beirne taking the 6 slot, O'Mahony at 7 and young McCarthy as TH lock to partner Ryan.
Big call
VdF is a significantly better player than POM
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@mariner4life said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
@Derm-McCrum said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
I read in Irish media this morning there's a possibility that van der Flier may be dropped to the bench in favour of Beirne taking the 6 slot, O'Mahony at 7 and young McCarthy as TH lock to partner Ryan.
Big call
VdF is a significantly better player than POM
Horses for courses
Ireland to contain SA rather than play the Ireland way?
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Playing a slow blindside at openside is a terribly negative option.
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@Duluth said in RWC Week 3: Springboks v Ireland:
If Kwagga does need to play in the backs where would he play? 12? Wing?
Back in his 7s days he played both as a forward and out wide. I reckon they’d keep him in the midfield. He’s not the biggest guy but he packs a punch.
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I don’t really understand how people think this is unfair or if ads are not within the spirit of the game.
Sa are playing to their strengths and playing to they way the game is today.
2 hour plus stop start rugby games and big emphasis on set piece and kicking and playing without the ball mean that SA can get away with it.
Fair play to them.
