'I quite like tired defences, it would be an interesting change in the laws'
Wasps boss Lee Blackett has pondered what rugby could be like if the current eight-man subs bench was reduced. Amid concerns over the level of injuries that allegedly happen with so many replacement players coming up against tired players who have been playing since the first minute in matches, there has been a suggestion that the number of subs should be reduced.
It is something to should prick up Wasps' ears as the Gallagher Premiership club have recently had matches where they have not used their full complement of eight replacements. For instance, their two starting props, Ben Harris and Kieran Brookes, played the entire 80 minutes of their recent Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 match versus Clermont.
That April 3 game in Coventry was even the second successive full 80-minute appearance for loosehead Harris, exposure totally at odds with the current trend where props around the world get substituted in and around the hour mark.
Asked if rugby having fewer replacements available for a team to use might potentially a positive step forward for the sport as a whole, Blackett said: "My initial thought on it was I'd probably like it the way it is but then I heard someone speak about how it would make the game faster in terms of it could put more fatigue and I quite like the thought of that, of tired defences.
"It would be good for the game. Now whatever comes our way, we will deal with it. I don't think people are going to listen to my opinion but I quite like tired defences. There would be more points scored in the game so it would be an interesting one, an interesting change in the laws.
"I'd go old school, I'd go zero (replacements). No, I have not really thought about it. It would be really interesting to see what you would do with props, whether you would go back to having one prop and the ability to play both sides. That would make it interesting in terms of that, but the safety of it I don't know. Let's go five (subs)."
Explaining how props Harris and Brookes felt after going the distance in Wasps' recent European knockout match, Blackett added: "Looking at their faces afterwards I don't think they want to play full 80. In terms of that, Ben did it against Sale (the previous week). We had just only one loosehead and we had got a tighthead playing at loosehead and to be honest he had done a little bit there but you're talking about playing prop at the top level.
"He could do a job for us there but we felt Ben was the right thing to stay. Against Clermont, we thought Kieran was going well because of the scrum so it was pure tactical in terms of that. Ideally, we are at our best when we have got fresh guys coming on.
"In an ideal world if we have everyone available we would be making changes a lot earlier in terms of that but you just have to treat each game differently. If I was being honest you'd love to make those changes around the 50, 60-minute mark but each game will have a different situation that will require a different tactic."
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No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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