Willie le Roux tackles critics, explains his new bomb squad role

Seasoned Springboks full-back Willie le Roux has addressed the criticism he regularly receives and has also spoken about what it has been like in recent weeks to be a new part of the famed bomb squad. The soon-to-be 33-year-old, a veteran of 74 caps, twice came off the bench in the three-game series versus Wales and remains very much a part of South Africa’s plans for the 2023 World Cup despite the negativity he often gets from the public.  

This criticism doesn’t negatively affect le Roux. Instead, he flips it on his head and looks at it as a positive, suggesting it shows that the supporters care about what happens on the field. 

Speaking at an online media briefing from Mpumalanga ahead of a week in which the Springboks will launch their Rugby Championship with a home game next Saturday in Nelspruit versus the All Blacks, le Roux said: “Sometimes you play well and you still get criticised. That is just how our supporters are.

“It means they care. If they don’t criticise you about anything then you know they don’t care. For me, it is always about going out there and doing my best and then I know I got the backing of the team, the coaching staff and everyone.

“At the end of the day what they say to me matters, my family, the close ones, but if the supporters didn’t criticise then you know they don’t care about us. Sometimes you just have to take that and move on and then do your best when you get an opportunity again.”

The Springboks bomb squad has gained notoriety in recent years for its ability to change games and leave South Africa the dominant team coming down the finishing straight. In 74 Springboks appearances, le Roux has been a starter on 67 occasions and his recent appearances off the bench versus the Welsh were his first as a replacement since a June 2018 run against England in Cape Town.  

He helped turn the tide in the first Welsh Test as a half-time substitute, the Springboks fighting back from a 3-18 deficit to win 32-29, but there was less pressure when he appeared as a first-half replacement for the injured Cheslin Kolbe in the series decider as his team were comfortable winners. What did he make of the experience?  

“Being part of the bomb squad was something new for me. When I had to go on in the second half of the first Test it was a bit funny and a different feeling. It was just about bringing a vibe and a lot of energy to lift everyone up around me and do my job as best as I can. It was a bit new, but I was really excited to do it.

"Unfortunately, Cheslin got injured in the last game and I had to go on early and then it was a bit of a different game that you have to play, we were leading and we just had to keep it simple whereas in the first game we were behind a few scores so we could play a little bit more and get the scoreboard going."