SPOTLIGHT: Bomb squad and other tactics Gatland wants to eliminate from the game

OPINION: Wales coach Warren Gatland is never short of a view on the game, even though he often comes across as salty when speaking his mind.

It is no different in his latest column in The Telegraph – in which he tackles an array of issues he feels ‘negatively’ impacts on the game.

“I believe there are a number of changes that can be made to improve the game going into the start of the new World Cup cycle,” Gatland wrote.

Kicking, defence, match officials, the 20-minute red card, the mark and the 50-22 are all things he suggests need to be looked at to ‘speed up’ the game.

“There are some law changes I would also like to see that might help improve the game from an attacking perspective,” the former British and Irish Lions coach said.

The most contentious subject he addressed was the Springboks’ famed bomb squad – with Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus causing a stir by using a forward-heavy (seven-to-one or six-to-two split) at the World Cup.

In the 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the Final Willie le Roux was the only back on the bench, with loose forward Kwagga Smith double up as backline (scrumhalf) cover.

“The final item on my Christmas wish list would be to review how we use replacements,” Gatland wrote.

“The game is producing incredibly powerful athletes and when you see teams like South Africa at the World Cup name a bench with seven forwards and just one back, it means that your forwards only have to play for 40 minutes.

“That was not what it was intended for.

“Rugby used to be about attempting to tire out a forward pack so that the space opened up in the final 20 minutes and there were more opportunities to attack.

“We are not seeing that at the moment because of the number of replacements and the incredible athletes we are producing.

“I think the time has come to trial a reduction in the number of replacements or even a return to when they were only for injuries.

“This ruling may just apply to top-level or international rugby.”

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He started the column off by saying that he recently attended a World Rugby conference in Sydney to provide a presentation on Wales’ World Cup experience in France

“The review also shed some light on what we need to change in the game,” he wrote.

“We talked about how defence dominates the game, but the biggest thing in the game at the moment which is probably having the biggest influence on performance and results is the kicking game and the kicking strategy.

“That includes the number of kicks by a side, the type of kicks and kicking metres.

“What has happened is that the middle part of the field has become the area where no side wants to be turned over, particularly if the concession is a penalty at the breakdown, whether it is for a player not releasing, going off his feet or in at the side of a ruck.

“Giving away a penalty in that area of the field can have a big consequence on what happens next and how long it takes for you to get the ball back.

“Through the World Cup in France, the team that registered the most kicking metres enjoyed roughly an 80 percent win rate.

“It is a damning statistic from the perspective of a coach and a player who wants to play rugby and shift the ball when the opportunities arise and take chances.

“Instead, there is a greater emphasis on territory, of needing to be smart when you have the ball and limit the amount of turnovers in the game, particularly in the middle part of the pitch – and that means more territorial kicking.”

Source: The Telegraph