VIDEO: Rassie on Bomb Squad criticism: 'I don't think Farrell feels that way'

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks were once again asked to respond to criticism levelled at their ‘Bomb Squad’.

This time Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus was the man in the hot seat after he unveiled an unchanged matchday squad for Saturday’s second Test against Ireland at Kings Park.

Last weekend, the famed ‘Bomb Squad’ – a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench – played a big role in the Boks getting over the line with a 27-20 victory over the Irish at Loftus Versfeld.

Erasmus replaced his entire tight five and Siya Kolisi in the 50th minute and it proved to be fruitful later on with the Boks winning a penalty try after a monster scrum.

After that match, the biggest critic of the ‘Bomb Squad’, former Scotland coach Matt Williams, once again had something to say about the tactic.

In his latest comments, he said it “discriminates against backs” and more importantly, he believes it is a major safety concern.

However, Erasmus is not paying too much attention to it.

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“We do hear things and we see things and I am on social media and I read things,” Erasmus told reporters on Tuesday.

“There are some things that you really take to heart and there are some things that you try to understand.

“I try to stay in touch with South Africa and what our people feel, how our people react and I try to be honest to the media without giving too much away.

“To be honest with you, I’ve learnt that if you know the laws and you know the protocols, you don’t go outside the protocols.

“I’ve been slapped over my wrists for doing that and then it’s about learning and adapting.

“Our reality is that we could have sent them on one by one, but if all six go on at the same time, I don’t know if that is dangerous.”

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Erasmus believes the Irish are not paying too much attention to it as well.

“Ireland definitely also play with a six-two split, so I don’t think the Irish team feels that way. I don’t think Andy Farrell feels that way.

“I think that is one individual [Matt Williams] who said that, but I am not even sure the Irish players will agree with that.

“They are too proud, and they handled us well. After that, they still managed to score two great tries to make it a really tense game at the end.

“And the one injury was in the first half before the Bomb Squad came on.

“Some things make sense when you see it, and others don’t.”

@rugby365com