Why the Springboks Bomb Squad Has Everyone Furious

[@leroydickens3705]

We never complained when England often used the drop goal, especially when it won the 2003 World Cup. No one asked for drop-goal limits to be imposed. Instead of Hansen holding his team accountable for their results, he is obsessed with the bomb squad.

[@frontrowrugby]

It's typical, isn't it? Always blame someone else instead of taking accountability!

[@pheasantplucker6117]

What does that have to do with the price of bread

[@pheasantplucker6117]

Load of bunkum . Less injuries to South Africa bomb squad may be. As usual you forget the tired opposition sucking up injuries from a fresh bomb squad.

[@frontrowrugby]

@@pheasantplucker6117 But those tired players can be replaced. They don't have to stay out there. It is the coach's right to make those substitutions. By the way, love your use of the word 'bunkum"! Brilliant!

[@phelansa23]

@@pheasantplucker6117 so, because their coaches are stupid, now you want to blame Rassies Bomb Squad? Come on dude, your argument is weak AF. I know it’s going to hurt, but try to think for 5 minutes. Managing the time forwards spend on the filed will extend their playing careers. That holds true for ALL teams. So, blame the stupidity of THEIR team management. Everybody is free to choose their replacements. They just have to do better.

[@sandrapitchers9272]

Jealousy make you nasty - all sour grapes 🤓

[@frontrowrugby]

That's exactly right, Sandra!

[@RiaanvonWielligh-y8b]

Rassie has been brilliant in making use of the talent we have in SA. Equally brilliant in thinking out of the box in how to use the rules to his advantage with the strength he has regarding the depth of talent available. Het is in a class of his own, and the rest of the world doesn't like not being the pase setters.

[@dreammaker9642]

Steve Hansen clearly hasn’t watched much from the SA youngsters like Hanekom or Louw… we aren’t worried about the future in SA

[@frontrowrugby]

Riaan you are the money!

[@frontrowrugby]

Bad news for Hansen! Hahaha!

[@knowmean]

We should field 2 teams in the 2027 RWC.🇿🇦💚

[@frontrowrugby]

This is the comment of the day! Love it!

[@robertombetta]

It helps when you have a population far greater than any other.

[@frontrowrugby]

@@robertombetta Yes and no. Bangladesh have around 170 million people and they've never won a single medal of any colour at the Olympic Games.

[@knowmean]

@ India have 1.7 billion, SA has 87 million

[@mvubu6823]

increasing the bench came directly from requiring specialist front-row replacements for safety. 2 props 1 hooker - no negotiable. So now you are left with 5 players for 12 positions. The next most specialist position is scrumhalf - so that leaves 4 for 11 spots. LOCK is next... especially with how technical lineouts are. that leaves 3 for 10 spots. The most attritional positions are then 6/7/8 - so one of those - 2 for 9 You can ONLY go 6-2 if you have a loose forward who can cover the wing. You can only go 7-1 if you have a 9 who can cover 10 OR a wing that can cover 9. It's not easy to go 7-1 at all. You need very skilled players to make the risk worth it. Cheslin and Kwagga carry that for the boks. Without them, it's much tougher. Replacements have allowed players to add 15-25kg with the knowledge they only have to carry it for half a game. I am not sure that's good for the game.

[@frontrowrugby]

Yes, exactly. You have to now have a full front row on the bench for safety reasons. I appreciate the way you've broken this down. In terms of what you've said about adding weight, I agree that I'm not sure if it's a good thing but what I can say is that there will always be pros and cons to everything.

[@Mzansi74]

Billy Beaumont still has sour grapes from the 1980 Lions Tour!

[@frontrowrugby]

Hahaha, you're not the first one that has said this.

[@mrtshepo4216]

I call this technical sports innovation.

[@frontrowrugby]

Love it, Tshepo!

[@michaelcrichton7763]

They basically admitting that they can't beat us without changing the laws. Just like when they outlawed taking a scrum at a free kick and banning the head coach and/ or Director of Rugby from being water carriers. What they are failing to see is that there's pros and cons to every strategy. Having a forwards heavy bench leaves you vulnerable to potential backline injuries during the match. It's a risk we willing to take. Let them focus on their own teams

[@frontrowrugby]

You are right, Michael. It actually comes across as if they will do anything to stop us but as you say our approach carries risk but at the same time nothing stops them from going down the same road.

[@zisssssou]

Who are "they" ?

[@michaelcrichton7763]

@zisssssou Stephen Jones, Steve Hasen and all other wingers overseas complaining about the successful and innovative tactics that the Boks have employed in recent times

[@DuchalvanWyngaard]

Chuck Norris wears Rassie Erasmus pajamas

[@frontrowrugby]

Hahahaha, brilliant!

[@whiteybester9160]

They do not hate the bomb squad. They hate South African rugby. Who cares. We are the world Champions. ❤❤❤

[@frontrowrugby]

There is a lot of truth in that statement ... but at the end of the day, we are indeed the world champions!

[@andy_olive]

Now one thing about the bomb squad that seems to be missed in most reviews about it is that the essence of it isn’t whether there is a 6 - 2 split or not but that the replacements would (especially in 2019) be players that usually would be starting players, so not just an extra forward but a team of forwards that are just as good, if not better (Marx) than those they go to replace. And they not kept to 5 min at the end of the game but given 35 minutes of proper game time. A 6-2 with inexperienced or aging but experienced players isn’t a bomb squad

[@frontrowrugby]

Excellent points you make their Andy. That's largely it isn't it? You either want your best players in the field at the end or you want guys that come on and do something different and that just causes chaos to the opposition. Kwagga Smith is the best example of that for me. And then in terms of different players I think the best example is Bongi and Malcolm.

[@phelansa23]

As a forward, I personally feel that Rassies way is much better for the players. It means that as a player, you are less exposed to injury. I agree 100%, Injuries are more prone to happen to tired players. The tempo of the modern game is such that players struggle to manage their fitness. So, it is either to protect the players by managing their time on the pitch, or, start using banned substances. And DO NOT even try to tell me that international players do not juice.

[@frontrowrugby]

You have hit the nail on the head. The only way to go back is to introduce weight or size limits but that goes against rugby's core principle of being a game for all shapes and sizes. As for the juice, I'll rather not say anything!

[@dreammaker9642]

I mean it’s not a coincidence most of those against are known for being old has been still stuck on the amateur era… wanting less replacement is a brain dead as wanting to let players bash each other in the head so for a chairman to make such a blunder says a lot about the leadership in that old boys club… plus what’s beautiful here is that anyone can do it… on the contrary other teams should be encouraged to do it, sure it’s a bit of a risk when you go up to a 7-1 but a 6-2 is a pretty neat middle ground between the safe bet everyone does and he high risk high reward that is the 7-1. I think one of Rassies biggest strength is identifying when a player is at that fatigue threshold where they give in a little too much.

[@phelansa23]

@ exactly!

[@frontrowrugby]

@@dreammaker9642 You are hitting the nail on the head! Rassie and his team actually keep real-time data so they know when a player has emptied his tank. As you say nothing stops anyone else from doing it. Old Boys Club all the way!

[@lydiapotgieter7867]

I wholeheartedly agree. It extends the playing time of players.

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

Well it makes sense to have more forwards in your "bomb" squad as forwards are bigger and work harder than backline players who tend to stand around doing nothing most of the game. Spoken as a No8 of course 😊

[@frontrowrugby]

Exactly, Phansi! Forwards win you the matches!

[@dreammaker9642]

OK I agree but not with the back lines doing nothing part… everytime your winter contests the ball in the air that’s a pretty big risk of something going wrong… and as the game stands lately air battles are crucial so even more hectic sometimes. Still not as repeated as some of the common forward actions that lead to injury. If your back line are doing nothing then I’m sorry but your team is a bit sht, you must wake em up

[@miadevries674]

As far as I know all the other teams are free to also select a 7/2 split or whatever split suits their style of play the best and we will not complain about that! I truly think these naysayer should just keep quiet or their opinions to themselves. Rugby is a noble game, so keep your comments about other teams noble as well or say nothing at all!❤

[@frontrowrugby]

You are exactly right, Mia. They can do it too but they choose instead to complain.

[@2wheelsondirt766]

bring on the 9 replacements rule, we got so much depth

[@frontrowrugby]

If they expand it, that's the way it will go. I can't see it going any other way. Then we'll go 8-1! Can you imagine the heart attacks from our "friends"?

[@greggooding6675]

I completely agree with you that some of the negative reactions are due to jealousy at the depth of forwards South Africa has at the Moment.

[@frontrowrugby]

Thanks Greg! Appreciate the comment.

[@jayperie2337]

I'm curious to know if they would be as vocal if it WSS a team other than the Boks successfully using the tactic.

[@frontrowrugby]

I highly doubt it!

[@dreammaker9642]

If france won a single game using a 7-1 they’d give Gathier the coach of the year award lol

[@frontrowrugby]

@@dreammaker9642 Hahaha, you know it!

[@Sabundy]

South Africans have to always remember that the reality is that World Rugby has always low key hated South African rugby for a variety of reasons. Im not going to get into those reasons (some being very political imho), but there is plenty of evidence to prove it. And thus given that reality we must always take anything the world rugby establishment says with a large dose of salt. Amd certainly dont allow it to bother us in any way. We are the most rugby mad nation on earth. Certainly the largest population rugby mad country. Our contribution to the sport is without question. And Im not even talking about the four world cup wins.

[@frontrowrugby]

I agree with you. You look at the behaviour patterns, the remarks they make and the decisions they take and there's definitely something there.

[@normanmcdermid1951]

What Hansen said about the big men is quite suspicious. Take you a bet he will give instruction for the big men to be injured.

[@frontrowrugby]

I agree with you, Norman. Very, very suspicious!

[@CasperPelser-st7jw]

They should all just shut up.

[@frontrowrugby]

That's right! Great comment, Casper.

[@justjanse4286]

Just to show, Rassie is in their heads. Flippen zombies.....

[@frontrowrugby]

Love it!!

[@Mzansi74]

What does ethics have anything to do with this? There are rules. You devise a strategy. You follow the rules. You play the game. If subs should only be for injuries, then change the rules back to what it was.

[@frontrowrugby]

Exactly! Who is Matt Williams to tell us what is or isn't ethical? Everything we're doing is within the laws of the sport. It's just self-righteous nonsense.

[@brucethomson3512]

51 different Springboks recently..... only abt one reliable place kicker tho.....not good when the games are close 😊 Sometimes not enuff depth in the right places

[@frontrowrugby]

I think when we settle with Handre and Sacha the goalkicking will be less problematic.

[@leoncolwin8645]

Steven Hansen has a point. And that point is on the tip of his head.

[@frontrowrugby]

Hahahaha, very good Leon!

[@thanyitimothyraphalalani9960]

Do you use the same cyan jersey every time, or do you have more than one?

[@petervanzyl518]

Eeeeiisshhhhh!

[@frontrowrugby]

Hahaha! Let's just say it's my uniform and I am well stocked for what I need in terms of the brand I'm going for. But ... I'm going to change it up in the new year! Stand by for that.

[@dreammaker9642]

Should wear an Irish shirt to troll us in an episode 😂 it would be funny

[@user-ft2pi2fi4h]

All international teams have the opportunity to build a “ Bombsquad” and no one is stopping them to do so … Personally I think they are just bad losers … when New Zealand was on their “ long winning streak” I cannot remember anyone criticising them the way the boks are being criticised … which I find very sad To me it’s nothing more than jealousy from a couple of pundits

[@frontrowrugby]

Exactly! And then they wonder why we feel they are mostly against us!

[@Mzansi74]

The RFU and the AB are above critcism.

[@frontrowrugby]

@@Mzansi74 Spot on!

[@AndrewPietersen-gu4rd]

So why then don't they do the same and stop complaining .......

[@frontrowrugby]

Exactly, Andrew! First with the excuses!

[@mrjakesh1]

The next team that has a lot of fast players in their team must then also be limited and forced to use slower players in their team.

[@toscabrutus1781]

Goeie Bespreking!

[@frontrowrugby]

Baie dankie!!

[@WalterChitja]

Honestly! I think they are jealous, it's comments like these that make me cringe, infact I feel embarrassed at times if men like Steve Henson lack the wisdom or even professional insight to actual go right ahead and learn from the innovative boks since they are bending every rule they want. I think it's disgraceful and I take offense at the fact that these people let the all blacks end being in this condition, the lack of depth their squad.

[@frontrowrugby]

Well said, Walter!!

[@EddieHolderSNR-f7y]

For sure niew zeeland wull di anything ti beat us 9 forwards okay

[@frontrowrugby]

Haha, you can see this coming!

[@m.t.1187]

They should all just shut up!!

[@frontrowrugby]

Yes!!!

[@DarrylMyburgh]

They are so jealous .Or they it is sour grapes with Steve Hansen

[@frontrowrugby]

That's right, Darryl!

[@jacobtack2258]

It is sour grapes

[@frontrowrugby]

I think so too, Jacob.

[@benvandermerwe4934]

Two reseves in past. Hooker and a scrum half. Hooker had to play prop and loosie.

[@frontrowrugby]

Yes, that's going even further back! Long time ago now!

[@mariussnyman3882]

Sport is not just about playing the game, strategy acourding to the rules it just what we clever South Africans are producing,u will soon find the very critic's will follow our example.

[@frontrowrugby]

I agree Marius ... as soon as they start going 6-2 then the critics will be very quiet!

[@trevormaluleke7485]

Nobody said they should not have their own Bomb Squad

[@frontrowrugby]

That's the thing, Trevor. They can do it too but instead they moan about us. Thanks for leaving a comment! Appreciate it.

[@johnhanson5943]

Doesn’t matter. We‘ll win either way. My only comment is we had once too little rugby - and now we have too much. Far too much. There is a concept called intelligent balance in all things. Remember it?

[@frontrowrugby]

I agree with you John. We need some kind of balance. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

[@ebrahiemdaniels6491]

Hansen, Williams and Beaumont should change their underwear regularly due to sour grapes instead of campaigning to change substitute law.

[@frontrowrugby]

Hahaha, yes!

[@TauCeti973]

Who's furious? A few second rate commentators maybe. I don't think too many people care that much, the media hypes it up. It makes sense to keep the engine room of the team fresh, if that means 7 or 8 forwards as replacements to hammer home dominance then so be it. It's an interesting storyline in the evolution of the great game.

[@frontrowrugby]

I love that you describe them as second-rate commentators! I don't mind the media hype so much because it draws more attention to the sport - for better or for worse. You must remember that rugby's market share compared to football is tiny and while that's an unfair comparison, it shows that there's a lot of hard work ahead in terms of growing the sport. World Rugby doesn't really help! Thanks for the comment!

[@briangovender7435]

They are all complaining cause there country can't win it and looking for problems

[@frontrowrugby]

You are quite right, Brian!

[@dreammaker9642]

They are just the classic old has been still stuck in the industrial revolution

[@karlvanrooyen7402]

That is why RASSIE is a DOCTOR. Wake up world rugby. It's very much a safety issue.

[@frontrowrugby]

There's only one Doctor Rassie Erasmus!

[@DavidSmith-yi8ou]

Pundits is not “everyone” btw.

[@frontrowrugby]

Poetic license, David. Obviously not literally everyone. That would of course be absurd.

[@DavidSmith-yi8ou]

@ Clickbate is the correct term. But hey, it’s working for you.

[@frontrowrugby]

@@DavidSmith-yi8ou if you say so.

[@glennvanderwesthuizen3316]

What stops anyone from doing exactly the same? They just don’t have the muscle. Hanson….what an whole. I love that they have these hickey fits.😂😂😂 yes shut up but that just can’t

[@IXr4-ORS]

Obviously the Boks are beatable like any other team in the world. They are just much harder to win against. Thats why they win tournaments. Sorry Hanson

[@frontrowrugby]

Well said!

[@citedcanvas85]

Its hilarious how jelly these grown men are because another team is currently superior to theirs. Lol.

[@frontrowrugby]

It really is! Also very sad. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

[@chrissmit6439]

Honestly, the only reason South Africans dont understand the objections from tough teams like NZ is simply because we dont have to face the Bomb Squad. You will be singing a different tune bro. Totally different.

[@frontrowrugby]

And what stops other teams from employing this same tactic? Nothing.

[@chrissmit6439]

@frontrowrugby correct.

[@mariussnyman3882]

There is another thing they will start complaining about,we play with 16 players on the field,and Jesus is no 16

[@frontrowrugby]

You can see it already!

[@zisssssou]

I've stopped to count the number of these "why the world is jealous of Boks?" or "why Boks are the best of the universe?" KZbin videos created by.... Boks fans.😅 Few contradictors would elevate the debate isn't it?

[@frontrowrugby]

Thank you for watching my video.

[@HenryBaggins-rz7mq]

Because it's boring. Didn't work against Ireland. They were like a damp match. Didn't go off.

[@ChrisPotgieter-r8n]

Daai klomp leef nog in die o'er tyd wys HUL reg RassieBo Bokke BO👍💯🤪😍

[@frontrowrugby]

Ja! Net so, Chris!

[@jlsimonable]

Why say « everyone » ? I have not heard any pundits, players etc complain about the so called bomb squad. As long as rules are followed we dont care . Dont grow a persecution complex

[@frontrowrugby]

It's just a bit of poetic licence, my man. Obviously not literally everyone. That would be ridiculous. It's cool you've not heard anyone complain but I have literally included four high-profile rugby men quoted directly as being against what we do.