Tayla Kinsey: How women’s Springboks are embracing the Bomb Squad

The Bomb Squad. Just reading those two words stacked together like interlocking second rowers is enough to send some rugby fans into a rage. Critics of the strategy where forwards leave the bench in clumps have branded the whole affair as an affront to rugby’s spirit.

In South Africa, though, those two words go together like boerewors rolls and a cold pint of Castle. Now the women’s Springboks side is tearing a page out of the men's playbook. And as they embark on what is arguably the most important chapter in their brief and truncated history, the noise emanating from the camp has struck an optimistic tone.

Currently ranked 12th on World Rugby’s charts, the Boks have recently beaten Spain (36-19) and the composite Barbarians (59-17) on home turf. On both occasions, heavy-hitting forwards entered the scene in the second half to continue the squeeze after some initial blows had been dealt.

“We’re definitely trying to emulate what the men have managed to do for some time now,” explains Tayla Kinsey, South Africa’s scrum-half. “It’s brought them a lot of success. Opposition teams know that the pressure will never go away and it plays to their strengths.

“We have similar strengths and we’re blessed to have the forwards we have. We see the Bomb Squad as our best chance of winning Test matches.”

They’ll put that theory to the test on Friday when they welcome Japan to the DHL Stadium in Cape Town for the opening round of this year’s WXV 2. Six forwards have been named on the bench for a game Kinsey expects to thrum at a frenetic pace.

“We know the Japanese like to play a fast running game, and that they’ll look to make us tired as they stretch us,” she says. “But we back our game plan and we’re more focussed on what we need to do.

“We’re building towards the World Cup next year and we’ve seen how England have become the number-one team in the world through their pack. That’s the standard. We’re backing ourselves to follow that lead.”

As the second-most experienced player in the group with 36 caps (after skipper Nolusindiso Booi's tally of 46), stretching all the way back to her international debut in 2013, the 31-year-old Kinsey is integral to the Springboks’ success.

“My job is to direct the forwards, to make sure that they’re calm, to keep them focussed and moving in the right direction,” Kinsey adds. “It's not only my responsibility. It’s a team effort. But I do recognise that the scrum-half’s job is especially important when you’re playing with so many forwards and putting your energy in the pack. If they can dominate up front it makes my job a lot easier.”

Kinsey is positive that the Springboks have found a winning identity under new coach Swys de Bruin, who took charge of the team last month.

According to SA Rugby’s CEO Ryan Oberholzer, this was a direct attempt to emulate the New Zealand Black Ferns, who recruited former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith to their coaching ranks.

“Swys is so technical,” Kinsey says. “He brings up little details that I wouldn’t have even thought about. He encourages you to play direct rugby and play with freedom but all within a system. He’s helped me with my options when kicking and has definitely helped me play faster by shifting the way the forwards are set up.

"I’m running in arcs now and our forwards are punching holes after receiving passes on the move rather than being static. It sounds simple but it’s actually made a huge difference and it feels like we’re getting over the gainline a lot more than we used to.”

Kinsey credits this shift to a higher level of professionalism felt throughout the squad. Two years ago the Bulls Daisies - the sister outfit of the Blue Bulls in Pretoria - became fully professional, awarding full-time contracts to every player on their books.

The results were immediate and this year the side claimed their second consecutive domestic title having lost just once all season. Twelve of the match-day 23 against Japan play for the Bulls including three starting forwards and five members of the Bomb Squad.

“They’ve lifted the standard,” says Kinsey, the only player from the Sharks in the group. “Because they come from a professional environment and because they know each other so well, we get through our drills on the training pitch at a much faster tempo, so we can then add more to what we work on. We’re not having to work the basics. We’re getting more advanced.”

Then there are the additions of four forwards who ply their trade in England. Prop Babalwa Latsha, lock Danelle Lochner (both Harlequins), hooker Lindelwa Gwala (Trailfinders), and lock Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers) bring experience and know-how gleaned from the most competitive league in the world.

“I can definitely say that they have played their part in our improvement,” Kinsey adds. “They play such a fast game in England but they also know how to slow it down, so there’s nothing that happens on the pitch that these girls haven’t seen before.

“They’re playing with and against some of the best players in the world. They’ve also given us confidence because if they’re good enough to play there then there’s no reason why any of us can’t.

“There’s a proper buzz in the team. We’re loving each other’s company and we’re so excited to show what we can do. We know that women’s rugby is a long way behind the men’s game but we are confident that we can catch up. First we have to start winning.”

This WXV 2 series sees them take on three teams all ranked above them. After 11th-placed Japan they’ll host Australia (sixth) and Italy (10th). Any improvements on last year’s show in the tournament, which saw South Africa lose to Scotland and Italy before beating Samoa to finish third in their group, would be a clear sign of their evolution.