Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has highlighted the pitfalls of South African teams’ 6-2 split strategy, saying it can leave them vulnerable when injuries strike.
Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks first deployed the Bomb Squad at the 2019 World Cup, now even going 7-1, and several countries and teams have employed similar tactics.
Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, Hansen said the Stormers’ 38-21 defeat by the All Blacks last week showed the risk involved when two players in the same position are injured.
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John Dobson’s charges lost scrumhalves Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage, leaving their outside backs to alternate at the base of the ruck, Wandisile Simelane their only other backline replacement and no recognised playmaker as cover.
“The 6-2 split didn’t work in favour of the South Africans this time. They roll the dice every time they do it and they were unlucky in that they got two players injured in the same position,” Hansen said.
“I hear the commentators, ‘it’s changed the course of the game’, but you know that before you go in, I don’t think you can use it as an excuse for anything.
“If you’re going to play a 6-2 split, you’ve got to go through all the scenarios. It showed me how it can be vulnerable if things don’t go the way you want them to go.”
Bok hybrid André Esterhuizen provides the world champions with flexibility, but the World Cup winner’s head knock last Saturday in Argentina, after skipper Siya Kolisi’s 24th minute substitution due to a hamstring injury, affected Rassie Erasmus’ tactics.
“That’s the risk you take,” Hansen said. “It will be interesting to see if it changes people’s minds or if they keep doing it.”
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Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
The post Hansen calls out Boks, Stormers’ risky ploy appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has highlighted the pitfalls of South African teams’ 6-2 split strategy, saying it can leave them vulnerable when injuries strike.
The post Hansen calls out Boks, Stormers’ risky ploy appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
