The Springboks were the first team to use that tactic in the international arena, against the All Blacks at Twickenham just before the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, and also when they faced their arch-rivals in the global showpiece’s final.
The Boks generally use six forwards and two backs on their replacements bench while only one backline player is used when they opt for the 7-1 split.
Criticised the Springboks
South Africa were victorious in both those matches where they opted for the 7-1 split against New Zealand and Williams has often criticised Boks head coach Rassie Erasmus and the rest of his coaching staff, saying they are not using the laws around the replacements for what they were designed for.
During Test matches, a huge physical toll is placed upon players, especially forwards and more teams are opting to go with a 6-2 split.
In fact, during the latest Six Nations round, apart from France using the 7-1 split, Italy, England and Scotland all opted for six forwards and two backline replacements while Wales and Ireland went with the more traditional 5-3 split.
Speaking in the build-up to Les Bleus’ 73-24 triumph over the Azzurri in Rome on Sunday, Williams doubled down on his call for the tactic of naming forward-heavy replacements benches to be outlawed from rugby as he feels it will be copied at lower levels of the game.
“It’s not the coaches’ fault, it’s become a thing that’s incredibly discriminating against backline players. We want people of all physiques to play our game,” he said on Virgin Media Sport.
‘The numbers are extraordinary’
“It’s not just international level, it’s going down to other levels of the games and the numbers are extraordinary.”
The 65-year-old then called on World Rugby to intervene as bringing on fresher forwards – especially at the lower levels – could comprise the safety of some players.
“That is not what our game is about. It is not the coaches’ fault. I understand the tactics and I agree with the tactics but World Rugby have to act on this,” added Williams.
“It’s dangerous in so many ways, it’s dangerous about concussions, it’s dangerous with our scrums at the lower levels of our game and it’s not bringing in the ethos of our game, it’s going against what we want.
“We are going for brutality at scrummaging.”
