‘Boks pick best 23, not starters and bench-sitters,’ says coach Jacques Nienaber

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber says that the Bok management team selects the best possible 23 for their most important matches and that they don’t differentiate between players who start and those who sit on the bench.

After the Boks once again rocked the world of rugby by naming a 7-1 bench split of forwards to backs for their important World Cup pool clash against Ireland on Saturday, Nienaber was quizzed on whether the Boks pick the bench first or the starting XV.

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“That’s a tough one. In our team, because I don’t know other teams, our bench isn’t necessarily what I would call a bench,” explained Nienaber.

“Sometimes people get an idea that if you are on the bench you are probably not as good as the guy who starts. But like we have said numerous times, with the team and squad we have here that is not necessarily the case.

“I won’t say we start with the bench; we select 23. I know it is probably a cliché but that is genuinely how we do it. They are selected for specific reasons.”

Discipline key

Looking at this Saturday’s match, Nienaber highlighted discipline as a key factor that the Boks would try to get right on the day, as they aim to overturn their tight loss against Ireland in Dublin last year.

“When two top teams play each other, discipline is important, not just keeping 15 players on the field but discipline in general,” said Nienaber.

“Penalty counts (are important). If you are ill-disciplined against a team like Ireland they can either convert that into points or get territory and put you under pressure in your own 22m, so discipline in general will be important.”

7-1 bench

Speaking about the controversial 7-1 bench split that has divided opinion, Nienaber doesn’t understand the outcry as it is well within the laws of rugby and doesn’t impact player safety in any way.

“I think if there is innovation in any sport it gets a reaction, positive or negative. This is obviously unique, it is the first time a team has named seven forwards and one back on the bench so that is why I would say it’s innovation,” admitted Nienaber.

“That will get a reaction. In terms of player safety, I don’t get that. I know nothing stops anyone else doing it and it will be a sad day, I think, if you’re innovative in the laws of the game and then they would change that.

“It’s not against the laws of the game and I don’t think it has any bearing on player safety at all.”