Donal Lenihan: Springboks supremacy aided by eight man bench - Does World Rugby need to revisit rule?

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus. Pic: Andrew Matthews/PA

IT FINISHED where it started. Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, overcome by red mist, became the third second row to be sent off, along with Lood de Jäger and Franco Mostert, on South Africa’s five game November series across Europe.

If Mostert’s card for an high hit on Italian out half Paulo Garbisi was correctly overturned on appeal —yet another example of the level of inconsistency from officials throughout the month — Etzebeth’s reckless eye gouge of Alex Mann will result in a long term ban.

I’ve been an admirer of the big Sharks lock since he emerged on the international stage back in 2012 to become the most capped Springbok of all time.

However, his actions on this occasion were inexcusable. Bear in mind, he’d just scored a try, South Africa’s 11th on a humbling afternoon for Wales, to propel his team into a 0-73 lead.

I’m not entirely convinced he meant to gouge Mann, only he can answer that. However his response to one of these all to frequent modern day scuffles where everyone runs in, grabs an opponents jersey and looks tough, was pointless.

It’s all centered on the belligerent defiance that’s become part and parcel of this South African squad. It manifests itself in different ways.

A more impressive example was the way they defended their line against a desperate last minute assault from the Welsh in an effort to register their first points of a complete mismatch and epitomized their mentality, imposed from the top by Rassie Erasmus.

That last minute goal line stand encapsulated their approach on this tour. They refuse to yield an inch, regardless of the circumstances. They do whatever it takes. It’s not to everyone’s liking but it’s difficult not to admire their defiance, unity of purpose and doggedness.

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth leaves the field having received a red card for gauging the eye of Wales' Alex Mann. Pic: Paul Ellis/Getty

After a month of captivating activity on the international stage, it sees South Africa well ahead of a chasing pack comprising New Zealand, France, England, Ireland and Argentina. Not a whole lot separates that quintet but, right now, the Springboks are operating at a different level.

At the other end of the scale stand Wales. I watched last Saturday’s game at the Principality Stadium and wondered how it had come to this for such a proud rugby nation. The last thing they needed after a very challenging Quilter Nations Series was an additional test against, of all teams, South Africa.

In the three QNS tests played against Argentina, Japan and New Zealand to that point, Wales had leaked 127 points. After this contest that was extended to an even 200, with 27 tries conceded. Where do they go from here.

As if things weren’t bad enough, newly appointed Welsh coach Steve Tandy was tasked with cobbling together a side short 10 players from the match day squad that lost 26-52 to New Zealand the previous week as this test was played outside the international window.

Strange as it sounds but, under Tandy, some green shoots were beginning to emerge to that point. 22-year-old out-half Dan Edwards, flanker Mann, Scarlets winger Tom Rogers, who scored a hat-trick of tries against the All Blacks, and the return to arms of Louis Rees-Zammit after a failed attempt at the NFL had all impressed.

Instead, in search of money, the WRU effectively threw a bunch of inexperienced novices to the wolves. Even when fielding practically an entire second team, the Springbok bench had more caps on 374 than the entire Welsh squad with just 306 between them. Talk about lambs to the slaughter.

Having surpassed Ireland by making the semi final’s of the 2023 World Cup, Wales have only beaten Georgia and Japan (twice) since that tournament. That’s three victories in 23 Tests with their recent 24-23 win over Japan secured by an 82nd minute penalty kick from Jarrod Evans.

The Welsh players celebrated at the final whistle as if there was no tomorrow. That said everything. What’s happened to Welsh rugby, largely due to a complete lack of vision and leadership from the WRU, is both humiliating and sad.

Wales defeated Japan but there has been precious few things to cheer about for Steve Tandy's men in recent times. Pic: Martin Evans

The incredible depth South Africa is developing in advance of the 2027 RWC is evidenced by the fact Erasmus has used 49 different players in tests since July alone. Outside of that, nothing has changed.

Springbok rugby has always been defined by power and set piece dominance. While, as Ireland discovered, that remains a serious part of their DNA, the pace, individual brilliance and coordinated nature of their attack as evidenced recently has added yet another dimension.

In rugby terms they are the living rugby embodiment of beauty and the beast and carry both elements in abundance. In some supporters' eyes, a terrible beauty has been born but I don’t quite see it that way.

SINCE the Ireland game, I’ve received phone calls and had people approach me for my take on that contest and where the modern game is headed. Life long supporters are getting increasingly frustrated.

Several have called into question the role of the scrum which, as a former front five forward, I see as a unique element that differentiates our sport from rugby league and a core element of what the game is about.

Whether we like it or not, stretching back to the amateur game, exerting physical dominance over your opponent has always been central to winning matches. Unfortunately, the law makers have facilitated that even more, to the point where it’s become the overriding factor.

World Rugby, the game’s governing body, must now look itself in the eye and wonder if, in an attempt to make the game safer, it’s exacerbated the problem.

By expanding the bench from six to eight players, facilitating the introduction of 22 stone beasts many with the aerobic capacity to play to their optimum for 40 minutes at best, has had the opposite effect.

How is it safe for an out half or centre, with 70 minutes of game time behind him, to have to tackle a fresh rampaging behemoth stationed in midfield off a line out, ready to explode down his channel?

The bench was originally designed to cover injured players. It added massively to the technical aspect of the game when that expanded to encompass tactical changes.

Coaches had to react to what was unfolding in front of their eyes and make calls in order to influence the outcome of games.

What happened on the 51st minute in Cardiff should be seen as a red flag to the game’s administrators when Erasmus introduced his entire eight-man bench in unison, replacing big powerful beasts with bigger fresher specimens.

Is that really why the bench was expanded. It certainly plays into the hands of deeper squads, aiding their ability to either close out or alter the course of a game. Is it any wonder, more often than not, South Africa have been able to blow teams away in the final quarter.

For opponents, it means they have to consider picking a bench specifically designed towards matching that explosive power. It’s the reason why I’ve been advocating for a long time for reversal to a six man bench carrying a maximum of four forwards.

For safety reasons you’d be required to carry a full front row. It would also mean you would have to consider picking more of a hybrid player, a Tadhg Beirne or Adam Baird, to cover the back five of the scrum but wouldn’t deny you the prospect of selecting an RG Snyman for impact.

The remaining slots would be designated for two backs in whatever permutation the coach decides. With that configuration, coaches would have to wait and see how the game develops before making prearranged calls. All too often now, players know in advance that they are going to be replaced on the 50th minute.

To be fair to Erasmus, his willingness to experiment with the make up of his bench and how he utilizes them is fascinating to watch. If the law makers reverted six, I’ve no doubt Rassie would still use his deep resources to maximum effect.

Whatever way you look at it the facility to introduce eight fresh bodies, in some cases in one fell swoop, has had a far greater impact on the outcome of games than originally envisioned. At the very least, World Rugby need to examine the data and revisit this.

As if things weren’t bad enough for Wales, Tandy’s men open their upcoming Six Nations campaign away to England and home to France, just about as difficult a schedule as you could imagine. It never rains but it pours.