Substitutes, replacements, tactical subs, impact players or finishers... whatever you like to call them they are the bone of contention for many changes and confusions in the game.
With over half a team now available to come on during a match, the whole nature of what was a fifteen aside game has been completely changed.
When substitutes were first introduced, it was to keep the game a fair competition by allowing teams to replace an injured player so as not to disadvantage them.
With just three replacements in those early days, the ‘bench’ was usually a balance of one front row player, on...