WHETHER IT’S 7-1, 6-2OR 5-3, PAUL REES CONSIDERS WHAT IMPACT THE CHOICE OF SUBSTITUTES IS HAVING ON THE GAME

WHEN Rassie Erasmus first opted for a 7-1split on the bench against New Zealand at Twickenham before the 2023 World Cup, he described an initiative which has come to be decried as dangerous and bad for the game’s image and load management.
The All Blacks had just conceded their third try to go 21 points down when Erasmus unloaded his bench after 46 minutes: on came Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith a...