Rassie Erasmus has taken aim at Matt Williams's coaching record while rubbishing claims the Australian pundit made about South Africa's bomb squad being dangerous.
While Rassie is no stranger to controversy, much of world rugby, Ireland included, have now trialled or adopted his trademark 6/2 bench split, affectionately named the bomb squad.
That being said, the split isn't without its critics and Matt Williams has been one of its most ardent opposers. Speaking on the VMTV Rugby Pod this week, the TV regular and former Leinster and Scotland coach took aim at Erasmus for bringing all six members of the bomb squad on at once against Ireland, branding it 'dangerous'.
🗣 "It is not safe!"
🗣 "I have no criticism for South Africa or Rassie, because it's legal."
🗣 "The responsibility is on World Rugby."
Matt Williams speaks strongly on rugby's sub laws after South Africa brought six forwards on in one go against Ireland. #SAvIRE pic.twitter.com/5wkAHsGaS7
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) July 7, 2024
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Rassie Erasmus aims cheeky dig at Matt Williams
With William's agitations being widely reported across South Africa during the week and causing quite the uproar, Rassie Erasmus wasted no time dispelling the claims his substitutions were dangerous, taking a cheeky dig at Williams' coaching record.
To be honest with you, I've learned that if you know the laws and the protocols and you don't go outside the protocols... I've been slapped over my wrist for not doing that. Then learning and adapting, I really don't see how that would be (dangerous).
Our reality is, listen man, we could send them on one by one, but all six go at the same time... I don't know if that's dangerous? I mean, Ireland definitely also play with 6/2. I don't think the Irish team feel that way, I don't think Andy Farrell feels that way.
It's one individual who said that. One injury was in the first-half was in the first-half on (Dan) Sheehan, before the bomb-squad comes on.
Asked whether he knew Williams personally from his time at Munster, Erasmus couldn't help but take a cheeky dig at the Australian, with the grin on his face saying it all.
No ( I don't know Matt Williams personally) I know he's coached, where he's coached and his coaching record.
Rassie Erasmus has defended himself against the allegations that the deployment of the 6-2 bench split known as the 'Bombsquad' is unsafe👀
Full press conference available here: https://t.co/KpdBS6xYlc pic.twitter.com/lIU0lI36vL
— Forever Sports (@ForeverSportsOn) July 9, 2024
In fairness to Erasmus, while the cost of last Saturday's loss for Ireland was high, the affectionately coined 'bomb squad' had little bearing on that, with Craig Casey suffering his nasty concussion before their deployment and Dan Sheehan suffering an ACL injury.
Despite Rassie's tactics wreaking havoc with Andy Farrell's substitution plans on Saturday - forcing James Ryan and Ryan Baird on early, there could be little complaints about the quality of the game that unfolded.
Ireland now head to the lower altitude Durban this week, where they'll face off against South Africa in the second and final test of the tour, where an injury-depleted Ireland will be out for revenge after last Saturday's result.
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