One thing you can say about rugby in its recent history is that it's become much more physical. While there is less fights and violence that there may have been in the past, with improved strength and conditioning player shave become bigger and stronger.
With the physical toll on players, especially forwards more and more coaches have looked into way of getting the most out of their pack. South Africa Head Coach Rassie Erasmus pioneered naming 6 forwards and only 2 backs on the bench and was the first to go as far as naming 7 when he did so in the lead to the Springboks second World Cup win in 2023.
The 6-2 split has become the norm now, with everyone but Ireland and Wales naming a minimum of 6 forwards on the bench in Round 4 of the Six Nations. However France went one step further for their hammering against Italy by naming 7 with only Maxime Lucu covering the backline on the bench. Over the weekend there was actually 84 total forwards named in matchday squads while only 47 backs with only 12 of those 47 being substitutes.
It's an interesting talking point about the way rugby is trending towards and it's something that Matt Williams feels needs to be taken out of the sport. Talking on Virgin Media in the lead up to France's 73-24 smashing of Italy in Rome, the former Leinster, Ulster and Scotland Head Coach believes that this will begin to trickle down to the lower levels of the game.
It's not the coaches' fault, it's become a thing that's incredibly discriminating against backline players, people of all physiques can play our game. It's not just International level, it's going down to other levels of the games and the numbers are extraordinary.
The Aussie also called on World Rugby to intervene as bringing on fresher forwards, especially at the lower levels, could offer much more risks to the health of 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. 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.
A 7/1 split on the French bench today. 6/2 for Italy.
Matt Williams reiterates his feelings on forward-heavy benches:
▪️ No blame on coaches
▪️ Brutality over finesse
▪️ Calls for World Rugby to step in
▪️ The dangers at amateur & schools level#ITAvFRA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/ncEobQE0Fc— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 23, 2025
While Williams' concerns of player safety may be a valid one, especially at the lower level, his comments about discrimination to the backline hasn't been found kindly to fans. With Erasmus obviously pioneering this tactic and using it to so much success there were a number of Springbok fans who voiced their displeasure at Williams' comments.
🙃 Discriminating against backs. pic.twitter.com/MH8c62xpOr
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) February 23, 2025
He’s honestly such a blowhard fool. Discriminatory against backline players. Are you out of your mind? Can we get people who aren’t completely inept to be pundits - please! https://t.co/BWNQY00ckl
— A-P (@rugby_ap) February 23, 2025
It’s just not in the spirit of the game 🤭🤭
— Jason Nomoa (@1992sFinest) February 23, 2025
I didn’t tune into the pre match analysis for my own sanity… but I should have put money on the bench debate getting mentioned
I grew up hearing that the beauty of rugby was little vs large but now it’s only if there’s a finite number of large? Pfft https://t.co/zUknKxKWSM
— CaolánSRugby (@CaolanSRugby) February 23, 2025
Then speaking after the game Ian Madigan said that Ireland should look out for this to be coming to Dublin in a fortnight.
I think they will. I think what we saw today is a blueprint of how they think they could beat the Irish team. The power we saw on show from the French was incredible and that's how they created space on the outside. Those two or three passes each phase and the speed they have on the outside will be a big area of concern for Ireland.
Will France go with a 7/1 bench in Dublin?
Should Ireland go 6/2 to combat it?
Ian Madigan & Matt Williams discuss after that French display in Rome. #ITAvFRA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/gjoyiz0KNb
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 23, 2025
France look to have shaken off the cobwebs they had at Twickenham in that upset defeat and are running head first into the Ireland match in a fortnight. It offers the potential to be yet another classic between Ireland and Les Bleus.
