Springbok Bomb Squad UNDER FIRE again! | Stephen Jones article reaction

[@andrews1289]

English supporter here. Perfectly within the laws. I think it's inventive, high risk high reward. Respect the Boks and Rassie massively, think you’ll give our boys a hiding at the weekend. PS if you could send us a few 4th or 5th choice props over would be appreciated 😂

[@Karma-qt4ji]

I like your attitude. But still no!!! 😂😂 On a lighter note, one day your team will click. Just hope it's not Saturday. Good luck going forward mate.

[@andrews1289]

@Karma-qt4ji We need to get a competitive scrum. Unless world rugby de-power it which they seem to want to. I hope not, the confrontation is one of the best parts of the game.

[@MosesMatsepane]

We can send you but they're going to be roasted by South African players for not being able to make the Bok Squad. Those South African Scottish players are fantastic, but they're not respected at all in SA.

[@kylewestman5400]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@rafiqhendricks6904]

We all like a good compliment, and I will return one. England has been great before and will be again. We are talking about World Cup winners.

[@davidr5597]

As a Kiwi and lifetime AB supporter, it's amusing to see the UK press focused on SA over the last couple of years. Recall when NZ was on top, how it was always about McCaw cheating in the breakdown and other criticisms of the non-kicking free-flowing rugby NZ was using at the time. Northern hemisphere picking at the top Southern hemisphere team is a long-standing tradition. It comes with holding that spot. Just take it for what it is!

[@Aluande]

Exactly!! They just can't help themselves.

[@KODE0101]

I remember that😂😂

[@SuranGuest]

The next time you're on top, we've got your back.

[@nizartaylor9814]

Well said.

[@bensenzo]

The northern hemisphere nations are still sour about winning ONLY one world cup between them. And a boring one at that😅😅😅

[@jacquesvanzyl8284]

😂😂😂😂.... Its like telling Usain Bolt to run slower cause he is too fast!!!🙈🙈🙈🙈

[@Ebendejongh1]

That's a good way of putting it

[@janhbhugo5085]

Exactly his legs are too long !

[@kennethmashingaidze3926]

If Springboks win a 3rd world cup they are going to ban the sport completely 😂

[@carlojvr]

@@kennethmashingaidze3926they have 4

[@jacquesvanzyl8284]

@kennethmashingaidze3926 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Spinn2winn]

Wales is rated one point above Georgia in World Rugby Rankings. Maybe he should stop focusing on South Africa and focus on fixing their own team.

[@willempretorius6700]

Springbok fan here. Lets not get too big for our boots here. England is not to be underestimated. No team is invulnerable.

[@johanweakley2658]

Agree. England had 4 or 5 extremely close games which could have gone either way. Disrespect them at your peril.

[@thenewlyreborngamer]

It's not being "too big for our boots, or arrogant" it's merely stating that on form and current state of play, we shouldn't lose to England or any NH team ATM (except maybe France). So no you are incorrect in this. We should be positive, we should be thinking that we will win, because any other thought will start a downward spiral to a place where we will second guess our abilities and quality. When the boys run onto the field they should expect to win (will we win every game, no) but we should not expect anything less

[@Upemm]

Absolutely.

[@carlosl-f2433]

We never ever take England lightly....there are games we have in the past but never England.

[@PW-iv6mk]

The Boks do not ever underestimate England, the press live in their own world and their view are around sensationalism, I have not seen Rassie or this core group ever show disrespect to any opponent! Period

[@thembamadi]

Assessing Rassie Erasmus' "Bomb Squad" tactic requires comprehensive data analysis. Here's a summarized evaluation based on available statistics: Positive Impact (2018-2023) Improved win ratio: Springboks' win percentage increased from 47.1% (2017) to 63.2% (2018-2023). Enhanced scrum dominance: Springboks' scrum success rate rose from 87.1% (2017) to 92.5% (2018-2023). Increased ruck/maul dominance: Springboks won 83.5% of rucks/mauls (2018-2023), up from 78.4% (2017). Reduced injuries: Despite concerns, Springboks' injury rate decreased (23.1% to 19.5%) since introducing "Bomb Squad" (World Rugby data). Tactical flexibility: Strategic substitutions influenced game momentum. Key Statistics (2018-2023) Scrum wins: 92.5% (highest among Tier 1 teams) Ruck/maul wins: 83.5% Tackle success: 87.3% Turnovers won: 24.5% (up from 20.3% in 2017) Average possession: 53.2% (up from 49.1% in 2017) Notable Matches 2019 Rugby World Cup Final: Springboks' "Bomb Squad" dominated England's scrum. 2021 Lions Tour: Springboks' replacements secured crucial victories. 2022 Rugby Championship: Springboks' "Bomb Squad" outmuscled New Zealand. Conclusion Rassie Erasmus' "Bomb Squad" tactic has: Enhanced Springboks' competitiveness Improved scrum/ruck dominance Reduced injuries Provided tactical flexibility While safety concerns exist, data suggests the "Bomb Squad" strategy hasn't significantly increased injuries. World Rugby's laws accommodate strategic substitutions. Sources: World Rugby ESPN Scrum Rugby World SA Rugby Magazine

[@louwpretorius4905]

Thanks for the stats but the success stats are not solely because of the bomb squad tactics.

[@MrChenjinyuan]

Lets not get too complicated with analysis. Bottom linr is sny side in the world can have a bomb squad but do they hsvevthe players on the bench that we have

[@liebmaritz6604]

Thank you ! and this is precisely the thorn in World Rugby flesh

[@andrewfarrer4568]

More to do with the change in coach, following dissapointing Alliste Coetzee, Heyneke Meyer & Peter deVilliers!

[@Goggawie]

And GREAT STINGY DEFENDING

[@saiyandemonisher]

Seriously like who gives 2 sh!ts what some nobody from nowhere thinks maybe he should go troll P.Diddy for clout.

[@Goggawie]

😂

[@RoddyPaul]

scot here, if the boks weren't hard to beat, there would be no glory in beating them. Also, was Scotland's best period not when the bomb squad were just on?

[@nat99997]

Correct! I remember shitting my pants from the 50th till the 60th minute due to how heavily the scots were giving it to us, we were completely dominated during that period.

[@JeyesFluid]

Scot players on Sunday all heavier than their SA counterparts, PS its more than half the Team!! 1, Pierre Schoeman, 1.85 m, 118 kg, Ox Nche, 1.73 m, 113 kg 2, Ewan Ashman, 1.83 m, 108 kg, Bongi Mbonambi, 1.75 m, 106 kg 5, Scott Cummings, 2.01 m, 118 kg, Franco Mostert, 2.00 m, 112 kg 6, Matt Fagerson, 1.88 m, 110 kg, Marco van Staden, 1.89 m, 108 kg 8, Jack Dempsey, 1.93 m, 108 kg, Kwagga Smith, 1.80 m, 97 kg 9, Ben White, 1.75 m, 88 kg, Jaden Hendrikse, 1.84 m, 84 kg 11, Duhan van der Merwe, 1.93 m, 105 kg, Makazole Mapimpi, 1.84 m, 90 kg 13, Huw Jones, 1.88 m, 102 kg, Lukhanyo Am, 1.86 m, 93 kg 14, Blair Kinghorn, 1.93 m, 105 kg, Canan Moodie, 1.90 m, 91 kg 15, Tom Jordan, 1.85 m, 95 kg, Willie le Roux, 1.86 m, 90 kg 18, Elliot Millar-Mills, 1.88 m, 121 kg, Vincent Koch, 1.83 m, 118 kg 20, Josh Bayliss, 1.93 m, 106 kg, Siya Kolisi, 1.88 m, 105 kg 23, Stafford McDowall, 1.94 m, 100 kg, Grant Williams, 1.75 m, 80 kg

[@mrm1884]

This is what blows my mind every time when i hear people say the boks are (giants/bigger than alland all) , but when you look at the stats and numbers, it's not that way really. Because if you say team x is big, the average weight and/or height of the team should be greater than team y. And that is not the case with the boks when compared to the top teams. That is just a propaganda machine, they use to explain the unexplainable of how they are able to do what they do when on the field. They base that thought by looking at a few players in the team like the likes of Eben, RG, PSDT etc... and they forget that there's chelsin, KLA, Faf, willle le roux, Grant Williams & mannie in the same team who are about the same size (not big players); and they have the same height being short with the likes of Ox,bongi etc... And in reality when you look at some other teams from prop,lock to winger it's hard to differentiate them from just looking at a picture. You can only pick out a scrum-half from a Pic.

[@annettekolb3103]

The difference is Ox might hate salads but he is muscle big he deserve his cake. Can the same be said about Jamie George, Joe Marler who ran when he caused a stir any of the front 3 more muscle then fat.

[@Parungae]

The bomb squad is not the issue the issue is rassie and how he deployers his players and motivated them. You could give the same squad to another Coach and he won't get these results.

[@RadientZAR5749]

@Parungae fact, 100% true

[@Upemm]

@@Parungae Fact..

[@sandrah5156]

It's jealousy.

[@pashadia]

European here. While I don't particularly enjoy the Springboks style, it is obviously effective, and I think that Rassie is among the best coaches ever. The kind of argument the author makes is obviously ridiculous - rugby is, and always has been, a big boys game.

[@petes9524]

You don't like Mapimpi, Kolbe and Arendse's tries? Damn, we'd better tell Rassie to get PSDT, Franco and Ox to take over the job. Damned wings scoring the tries, such boring Bok rugby!

[@chriscloete1549]

@@petes9524 lol

[@mallachsteve]

Who cares what Jones wrote?

[@edwardhorner4445]

Whats frustrating is the rules are the same for everyone so the other teams can do the same , no ones stopping them implementing their own " Bomb Squad ". Its ok for other teams to import players into their sides to beef up their teams but the Springboks whose players are all home grown are crticised . World rugby never made any changes to the game when the All Blacks were riding the wave of endless victories .

[@Jesus_is_Lord_316]

The problem is, most other teams can’t assemble a powerful bomb squad - northern hemisphere teams can only string together a few sparklers that fizzle out after 10 min.

[@migyman321]

I think South Africa’s forward pack is just levels above everyone else strength wise that world rugby feels it’s destroying the game which is ridiculous cause there’s no laws being broken. Other teams will just have to figure out something to compete in the scrums and the rucks

[@bensenzo]

​@@Jesus_is_Lord_316who's fault is that then? SA's?

[@merlinbotha363]

@@Jesus_is_Lord_316 skill issue

[@quirinaled2752]

@deanjames1934 The 'endless victories' being referred to are NZ's during their period of absolute dominance under McCaw. The point OP is making is that no-one proposed changing the rules just because NZ had the players and skills to play within the rules in a way that made them extremely hard to beat.

[@garypacitti]

I’m a Scot and have no issue. Ultimately there is a risk that SA are willing to run , fair play to them. Don’t believe the narrative that everyone objects it’s simply not true! I don’t agree with 23 players personally. I would prefer it was 15 and injuries only as it was originally . However it’s 23 at the moment and that’s what we all play to. No problem.

[@Slappies007]

Jealousy makes you nasty😮

[@mariannugent3179]

I agree with you, as arrogance has the same effect

[@AC-hu3xk]

Stephen Jones is a Joker... Don't even bother to discuss him.

[@PW-iv6mk]

@@AC-hu3xk yes, trying his best to be relevant

[@briandevin1349]

Irish/Scottish fan here, and I think the strategy has been massively impactful, not only on field, but also to the players, and how they are viewed. No longer is being 'on the bench' considered quite as much of a negative (not the best players.......only bring them on if really needed), rather now being viewed as something positive and of true value to the whole team, with the bench now seen as the impact players. Support this outlook 100%, and cannot quite understand the media negativity around it. Don't moan about it, compete against it. Oh yeah, maybe its due to not having the depth of the Boks........certainly not their problem I say 🤔

[@briandevin1349]

Brilliant game at the weekend on an aside.

[@rickybobby38]

Exactly, it's something called strategy ... if it works, it pays off hugely, but if it doesn't, then things can get a bit sticky. Honestly, with the way England plays, you'd think they'd want to look into this style of bench usage themselves

[@merlinbotha363]

A football coach has said substitutions in modern sports are not replacements , but "impactions" (tbf English is not his first language)

[@briandevin1349]

@@merlinbotha363 I like that terminology, particularly true of the Bomb Squad, fairly sure they are capable of a number of impactions 😅

[@sparggy]

Totally agree, its no longer starters vs bench players but everyone plays their part and is just as important to the game as a whole.

[@eyeofrage7025]

Rassie is an innovator in our game, Rugby needs people like him. ABs fan and that bomb squad has put in work in the last 4 games v us, we need to get better to catch the world champs, not cry about number groupings of players.

[@MeiA-h9r]

Rassie must retaliate and put a 8-0 split or no split and I think it could be done Kwagga or MVS can cover some backline positions or you push PSDT to the wing if you have to. Reinnovate the game for position-less rugby

[@JanGreyAndSoOn]

Etsebeth played at no 10 at school. Want to draw the crowd? Pick him at 10. And it can cause some enjoyable chaos as he crashes up on 10 with every ball with PSDT and Wiese next to him...

[@desmondallindrallintscmint7479]

Boks are no.1 and the world champs, highly talented squad of players and world class coaching and a team with belief. However, as per the World Cup semi finals, and a recent very narrow England loss to the AB, do not, and never, underestimate how good the England teams actually is. All this crap with intention to create controversy re the bomb squad, is trying to upset the springbok game plan.

[@nkyende]

It's like telling people who are 7ft tall they're not allowed to play Basketball because its an unfair advantage😂

[@JeyesFluid]

Well said Steve. Nothing but exceptionally bitter sour grapes. Speak to fans in both the Northern and Southern hemispher they almost all say the bench 6-2 and 7-1 has been the most exciting thing to come out of rugby in he last decade infact the only people you can find who dissagree are the extremely bitter sour toxic voices and jurnow pushing their narrative -SJones, Matt Williams, Ben Smith-,these 3 absolutely hate the Springboks, BenSmith (jurno not player) is absolutley Toxic towards South Africa on another level. These type of people do nothing good for the game or fans pushing their Toxic drivle.

[@malikkeraan2037]

I dont know what the fuss is all about. Actually, the springboks are taking all the risk, one F up to our backline, then we are in big trouble. If it is that we lose because of the bomb squad strategy, they will be having a completely different conversation.

[@desertstar223]

Fully agree. No one seems to forget that there is a risk about selecting a "bomb squad". However, that's the risk that Rassie is prepared to take.

[@leonmeyer5049]

Man it is hard keeping up with the Joneses😂

[@Goggawie]

😂

[@petrilabuschagne]

In my opinion, Rassie gave the reserve players a name and a purpose, and that is why they are so effective. They have a specific job to do and believe they are a worthy part of the match day team. A very specific purpose = success. Lastly, my statistics professor taught me a very valuable lesson. "Statistics is like a bikini...interesting what it reveals, but crucial what it hides"

[@markburgess7956]

It's could innovation. If any other team in the world had the players we had, they would do exactly the same.

[@Sekatings]

I read about this 2 weeks ago, honestly i took it as a compliment🤞🏾 Everything Rassie and his team have done within the laws.. I guess they are tbat good.. The arrogance part further proves his basic dislike.. Im cool with that, when you at the top its expected.. 🤞🏾🥰🇿🇦 Boks jus need to keep doing what theyre doing...

[@DrBroncanuus]

SA are mentally the toughest team to break down in world Rugby...it is almost impossible to break through their Defensive line and score a Try and people do not like them for these reasons...

[@MorgMorg-uf6ps]

Boks should pick a bench with no split...dont call it a bomb squad, some might think its dangerous😂

[@JeromeBrickles]

😂

[@SazileTyokolo]

😂😂😂

[@antheacarolus8084]

No bloody ways, if they can't handle a word, then why are we even trying to make them understand. Eish, I can only say this in Afrikaans, hulle is naar They can't handle us. We are having our moment, we're apparently not supposed to. We are making the world scared because our team aren't a hunch of meatheads. They are skilled, creative and just awesome. We all see the stats during the game, we are just specimens of excellence, it's not weight, puleeze. Rassie always gives the weight Stat. I'm ashes, don't let them gaslight us. We are the standard at the moment. Finish and klaar!

[@RadientZAR5749]

It's psychological isn't it?😅

[@goitsemanglehika7683]

Maybe it should be called the silent bench.

[@kylewestman5400]

Love how the English and Welsh journalists know it all yet their coffers at their unions are empty and clubs are dying 😢😢😢

[@greenplasticgun]

"Under Fire" is a strong statement. More like "Pasty, irrelevant, angry old man shouts at clouds while waving fist"

[@lunny2230]

Check out the Fijian lads. Watching them lining up is like going to an appliance store and walking down the aisle of fridges! Does anyone complain about them switching out 8 tired fridge sized players for 8 fresh fridge sized players? 🤣 No because they don't win much so nobody cares. The fact is that SA has a great crop of forwards to chose from, and it's always been a traditional strength for the boks so why wouldn't they try to get the most out of the twenty odd (maybe more) genuine world class forwards they can chose from?

[@rickybobby38]

Hmmm ... Wales just lost to Fiji & their 8 fridge sized players/replacements ... maybe that's what lead him having this rant about SA & their Bomb Squad - deflecting from Wales being useless atm & trying to cope with his feelings of inadequacy by proxy

[@lunny2230]

@@rickybobby38 Haha, great point! 🤣 If you can't beat them, then kick them out of the competition! 🤦

[@Rotowhaka]

@@lunny2230 that's a bit rough comparing a island nation of 500,000, of which only half the population (the Fijians) are interested in Rugby, to SA success with its player resources And Fiji does well and truly punch above its weight, it has two Olympic Mens Rugby Goals, better than NZ or SA mens teams

[@lunny2230]

@@Rotowhaka Calm down Karen. Absolutely no disrespect to Fiji rugby was meant. Of course Fiji isn't directly comparable to South Africa in terms of rugby success. That wasn't the point at all. The point is that everyone is complaining about the size of the SA replacements, while in fact all countries have massive players to bring on as subs, but nobody cares about the other teams because they don't win as often. If Fiji was winning every game against the northern hemisphere (which honestly they are doing a good job so far on the tour, and I love watching them doing it!) then everyone would suddenly complain about the size of the Fijian players and how its not safe for the poor little northern hemisphere snowflakes! 😉🤣

[@Rotowhaka]

Thats what it came across as That is SA is so great, and because Fiji win nothing it does not matter, And as person with close Fijian ties, your comment was a put down, with an exaggerated sense of your own and South Africa's Rugby's own importance and abilities

[@knowmean]

After 4 seconds when you mentioned European journalists I knew immediately it means 1 rwc in the north vs 9 rwc in the south. A nothing burger from Europeans 💚🇿🇦🖤🇳🇿 💛🇦🇺

[@sibusisomadondo586]

This is probably the most nonsensical topic in sports rn, it’s competition, you have to take advantage of your strengths within the set rules. Teams should be trying to innovate and come up with strategies to nullify the bomb squad, that’s what sport is about, it’s entertainment. When the GS Warriors started dominating by playing a smaller lineup and shooting more 3s, they were the only ones doing it, other teams didn’t complain, they knew they had to overcome the new giant, it took them 4 years to catch up, that was the draw to the NBA 2016-2019… “who can challenge the warriors?”. World rugby should be embracing this, (new) fans are drawn to/by dominant winners (dynasties), not by new rules every weekend to “speed up the game”.

[@rickybobby38]

Ironically most of the recent law updates have ended up slowing down the game (TMO/ref confabs that last minutes on end & still somehow come out with the wrong decision)

[@conneltheunissen2997]

He is just a Welsh man anticipating Wales being totally crushed

[@itwasntme8770]

It’s only Stephen Jones, a man who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow when it comes to rugby journalism.

[@richardstevens6263]

Seems like quite a big difference between north and south is attitude - when we were getting hammered we didn’t look to change any rules. Seems it’s the first thing the north looks at when things aren’t going there way

[@Ginger4789]

Who is Stephen JONES 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Upemm]

@@Ginger4789 good question 👍

[@waynerockman1242]

Rassie and Co do everything according to the book. Nobody likes the fact that the SA coaching staff highlited the use of the bench, so the ones whinging can go fly a stupid kite. Go Boks

[@BentJ87]

Thank you for introducing me to this unknown character, that identifies as a journalist - Stephen Jones. Now I need to find a way to forget about a person that I never knew of before watching this episode. Please don't defend a world class team with a mediocre confused Welshman that is best left at the butt end of a classic bar joke.

[@colinhulett8139]

Very well put Steve, well done! Just because the risk has paid off each time does not mean it is not a risk anymore. These people, instead of crying and trying to change things, rather find their own way to win with what they have. Ireland has their own systems and programs, which are working so well and look how small they are as a country. What the world likes to ignore is South Africa has always had to select x number of players of colour. Which was an issue as we could never select the best side. Russie came along and did not moan as other coaches and us as supporters did. He made it work by developing the standards of the player of colour. When was the last time a South African (since Russie was in charge) made a comment/complaint about a player of colour being selected!! So anyone crying and complaining, go and find your own way to win within the rules and stop being defetest and trying to get the laws changed.

[@craigmorgan4676]

Come on England u have to wake up for the bok game plz!🙏🙏🙏🙉🫵🫵🫵💪💪💪🤝🇬🇧🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@jacquesvanzyl8284]

😂😂😂😂

[@mervinmaxes409]

Everybody gets criticised at some point we just have to live with it Go Boks

[@BanzLanda86]

This is not criticism. It's pure hate! I like the Scottish commentator who said that he actually thinks having a Bomb Squad makes rugby union better and intriguing. We called a scrum from a mark which was within the rules, and then it was banned!

[@Positive_vibes1982]

Who’s stopping Stephen Jones from asking England and Wales to create their own 'bomb squad'? Oh, I forgot-none of their players are fit to be called that! 😅 Maybe they should introduce the 'firecracker squad' instead 😂 and stop complaining about Rassie and the Springboks' coaching team🤣🤣🤣

[@johndouglassalgado9616]

7 replacements at least keeps the game at high tempo for a full 80 minutes.

[@Boks-i4h]

If Scotland won then he wouldn't even mention the bomb squad. Sore losers, everyone who complains. Instead of finding ways to compete and win, lets rather change the rules of the game. Ridiculous🤦‍♂️

[@cornelcarelse7613]

Next...no scrum caps for backline players as they dont scrum and not in the spirit of the game 😂

[@stephenstrydom1]

Did the Springboks somehow prevent the Scots form selecting their own 7-1 split?

[@duncanmillar6048]

We’ve patented it so no one else can use it.

[@zeezan231]

@@duncanmillar6048lmao😂😂😂😂 why crack me up at this time of the night?

[@salignadevelopments9108]

It's a loser mentality. It's very ironic that he calls Rassie and the Springboks arrogant. He is the only arrogant one here.

[@desertstar223]

Is there anything that prevents other teams from doing the same thing?

[@bensenzo]

Even if the bomb squad was banned, South Africa will still continue to beat the Brits and win more world cups than them combined 😅😅

[@Andrewpc2023]

The truth is that Stephen Jones represents all that is wrong Northern hemisphere rugby. He has long been the mouthpiece of the tzars at rugby ‘HQ’ and Bill Beaumont. If Britain can’t develop the depth that SA , NZ and Argentina have managed to do then Stephen Jones should focus on the structural side of NH rugby. I would feel for Stephen Jones because his views belong to past an era .

[@rickybobby38]

Agreed, too busy moaning about what us SH nations are doing. Focus on your own backyard Mr Jones. You lot have vastly more resources at your disposal than the rest of the nations, you should be running circles around us all.

[@kslice810]

A born and bred South African here. I would firstly like to apologize,.... to absolutely no one! Because the back to back world cup winners does what the F they like!!!

[@TshepoNkadimeng5]

😂😂😂🎉❤

[@Goggawie]

Net so🎉

[@beatrixstrydom1323]

I wonder 🤔 if these people get told how to improve their team play and complain about the plan they have to hopefully beat us ...Because Rassie Brand has built a World Champion Springbok team ....Rassie Brand the Magic called Masterminding is making History every day that goes buy ...I call it Rassie Empire a level he has made his own ...Baie Dankie so trots op jou Rassie and your coaching team and our Springboks.. Keep Striving we want more Beatrix Strydom

[@sambeckingsale2542]

Until the rules change, there is nothing to criticize. Simple as that. It's legal then fine. Any bitching needs to really target the rules and be in the interest of the game. Rules are changed all the time to try make the game more entertaining. Whether or not one agrees with the rules is up for debate but good on the Boks for doing what they do. It is legal and fair.

[@NarniaSydel]

would be nice if you could leave a link or source to the original article somewhere 👍

[@mthokozisinozibele9113]

The question is; what law is being broken? And yes they are the BEST team and squad, just have a look at what they've achieved to measure against peers/competition.

[@Burninglash]

I think the antagonism against the bomb squad needs a different response. A 23 man game allows formore player safety whilst still allowing for the big hits that are part of the highlights spectacle. The fatigue factor is another area where the 23 man game improves the contest. By having fresh players come on the game remains fast and dynamic for the full 80 minutes. It also facilitates the hia protocols which also is pretty disruptive. Then we need to challenge the poor coaching of teams that have failed to build depth in the professional era. The top teams have depth as a key factor, that is exactly what helped Ireland have ots run at no one ranking. The bokscate not bigger they are more ferocious. As one english player recently admitted in a podcast, it's not that teams can't match our physicality in a match, it's that we do that every game.

[@christophermorkel.1955]

Mate the reality is, they introduced the rules to protect players from fatigue and injury. Rassie used his insights and tactics to introduce the bomb squad to the game. It is a huge risk that he takes in the event that other players pick up injuries in the last 20 min with no reserves left to play in the back. It doesn’t make it unfair, it’s a strategy. The powers that be need to combat the strategy on the field, not bleat about the rules. If they change the rules Rassie will adapt, what people don’t understand is that it’s not our bomb squad winning cups, it’s depth. The Boks currently have unrivalled depth.

[@tapiwa1992]

People are jjst hating on the immense depth SA have at their disposal

[@simonsbergblinds7532]

Maybe we should start playing with a leather ball again. Just to piss everbody of, rassie should pic a 8_0 split this weekend. Kwagga can play anywhere in the backline, and cheslin and kla can cover for scrumhalf

[@gtanz8475]

Jealousy, jealousy and more jealousy!

[@GhettoGreg]

There is no arrogance from our team, we barely celebrate a win these days.

[@rickybobby38]

I mean Du Toit scored his maiden test try & just trotted back to position like it was nothing ... best non-reaction ever 😂

[@bensenzo]

The northern hemisphere nations are still sour about winning ONLY one world cup between them. And a boring one at that😅😅😅

[@robinboyes8749]

Stephen Jones' livelihood depends on playing the victim. He's not going to compromise his salary with facts.

[@rockysmickey3797]

Man, forget Stephen Jones, he's just a contrarian. old and backwards is correct. Rips Ireland no matter what we do too.

[@DaveMcBain-bh9fr]

Why do we even entertain these questions . SA are not breaking any rules by having either a 6/2 or 7/1 split, all teams can do the same so why are they crying. Just because our players are super effective is what bugs other teams. Shame they must all get over it. Any team can make there substitutes at what ever time they want. JUST GET OVER IT. We have sone amazing players at the moment and it won’t last forever. That’s my 5 cents worth 💪 go bokke 🏉🏆🥇

[@nevillewatson8718]

We are preparing for 2027 so we give the forwards game time against the best in the world for the next WC

[@dve804]

The irony of Stephen Jones complaining about arrogance!

[@anthonylees5735]

You would think that the "bomb squad" substitution rule was only available to the Boks. The other countries simply don't have the depth to use it to their advantage.

[@shaunelsdon7963]

Leave the bench splits alone... How a team deploys their bench is their own thing. It's called depth, not arrogance. Maybe you Northerners should work on your depth

[@isakclaassen8573]

When we join the international scene after isolation back then ,the northern hemisphere of rugby using the bench factor first and the other thing,they keep on saying our big forwards are dinosaurs. The dinosaurs will not keep up with the modern way of rugby

[@Gaf-ri2jm]

Realy gatvol of the Rugby world finding a way to NOT like the boks, enough now.

[@GraemeRiggien-i3n]

The Welsh should stick to singing 😂

[@rickybobby38]

They should learn not to give away multiple penalties in kickable range

[@nicolenevanwyk6919]

The bomb squad eats plenty pap en vleis. Maybe jones should feed his team the same and then they will also look like giants

[@grahamedouglas]

Bok are clearly no 1 team in the world. I think most European rugby players and supporters acknowledge this. Some journalists are jealous of the top 4 nations in the world and have nothing better to do that try and knock them. I admire all the teams that can change and bring a new perspective to the game.

[@Rotowhaka]

Would it not be better to cancell the Wales Vs SA match and the NZ vs Italy game, and have NZ vs SA and Wales vs Italy games that would at least be more competitive I can see the SA vs Wales game been extremely one-sided, and the score line could be really embarrassing, The NZ vs Italy, i believe the Italians, will give NZ a run for their money, as i believe Razor will give those fringe players a run.

[@louwpretorius4905]

Stephen Jones is a word poet but he has no rugby logic. I am happy that you point out the fact that South African players are not bigger... simply not true. Our hearts are bigger yes. I hope those uninformed journalists and World Rugby will get there heads out the hole it's in. THANKS FOR A GOOD VIDEO!

[@matthewbull6102]

Jones is an over emotional joke of a journalist. It’s not so much what he say - he is entitled to his opinion - it’s how he does it.

[@keatoncollop6964]

Rassie should switch it up just to make a point.. 6-2 split, but only 2 forwards.

[@Positive_vibes1982]

They'll still complain🤐

[@stewartmcgill3691]

I read the article before stumbling on this video. I felt that it was just a bunch of sour grapes being given a platform to whinge

[@spirobouloukos511]

I can't believe we actually talking about size,weight of rugby players. The UK journalists vomiting this sort of nonsense are just embarrassing them themselves.

[@johnhanson5943]

I also think our game was better without so many substitutes. Also, when we just got on with scrums - and they were over with in a jiffy. Check games from the 1970s / 80s. We spent hardly time on scrums and scrum resetting.

[@rosshartley5386]

Top team always attracts criticism...shows the great passion for the game! Stats are interesting and seem to suggest boks punch above their 'quite moderate' weight. Articles that use emotive terms like 'arrogant' are bound to be primarily opinion pieces, rather than balanced analyses. At 14:20 you mention SA exploiting a 'loop-hole' but i don't see any 'loop-hole'. That suggests some way of exploiting a weakness in the rules. Rather SA are strategizing within the rules to suit their strengths. There is no obvious loop-hole giving a team an unfair advantage, otherwise by now everyone would have exploited it.

[@dulajohnstone5704]

I believe the "bomb squad" is changing their title to "Terror squad"

[@Kubeka2]

The Bomb Squad is a red herring. Just a distraction to maybe distract from focussing on the challenges in the game itself.

[@capetowntoffee]

I don't think its about the weight of the forwards or the pack, its about the quality in depth that SA has and the rest of the world is trying to find a way to negate that advantage. Of course they will blame the system and try to change it, world rugby already changed the law about calling for a scrum from a free kick. I see no reason to change that law other than to negate SA's advantage in quality.

[@corinnegourley7125]

Rassie has been doing this since 2018. Nobody is stopping anyone from doing the same.

[@JohnWick-lc8si]

They can Change the rugby rules how they want SA Will adapt, we like that kind of challenges.

[@alexanderweideman324]

Rassie's not breaking any rules. The only reason why Jones is complaining is because the rest of the teams don't have the depth to stock up a bench with that amount of talent. They should start breading forwards in their own back yards like South Africa's doing. This is a typical example of jealousy.

[@veedee1732]

8-0 is coming. They're gonna lose their minds

[@walt777]

😂😂😂

[@almo3390]

Guess Rassie is in their heads 😂

[@paulvandervyver4223]

I don't understand what all the fuzz is about. Any team could implement the same 7-1 split for the bench if they wish...but oh yeah, they don't have the depth that the Boks have, so now it must be ostracized as something awful and "not within the spirit" of the game etc etc. Really?

[@rickybobby38]

It's just old NH bitterness 😅 They can't win a RWC for the life of them, so they have to huff that copium - with NZ it's us "poaching from the islands", with SA it's the Bomb Squad (and any other unique strats)

[@kznsoftball5326]

Jones , what if Wales did the 7--1 split , would you rather have the books only allowed 12 players, you cake

[@adavis5036]

I'm English. The boks are just so good. We really have the best coach, and an awesome team. Let it go to all the others. You aren't that good. SA is😊

[@ecoetzee5291]

Don’t be surprised if Gatlin made him say this.

[@barriesbarnard7336]

Here in sa our pre-primary schools have touch rugby teams maybe we can select a team out of them for his teams who dont have the guts to face the springboks and their bom squad can play against our mini bokkies

[@joshuaaustin5647]

The same people who criticise the 7-1 split when it works will be the first to say how stupid Rassie is for doing it on the day it backfires against us.

[@quintusvandermerwe4138]

Imagine what they are going to say if we do an 8-0 split.

[@jdsymington7000]

Its only because we have depth in players and they do not. Poor sour grapes