The Springboks Have a Weakness This November

In 2019, Rassie Erasmus pitched his front-rowers an idea that could have backfired: the best props in the world would stop starting Tests. The Bomb Squad went on to win two World Cups, a Lions series and a record 35-7 win over the All Blacks. Now the players who make it work are dropping out one by one, right before the Springboks face Italy, France and Ireland. This video explains how the 6-2 and 7-1 bench splits work, the backup plan that saved the 2023 World Cup final, and why the injuries to Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Kolbe, Etzebeth and Esterhuizen hit the system exactly where it's weakest. CHAPTERS 0:00 Rassie's 2019 boardroom gamble 0:38 How the Bomb Squad works 2:27 The 7-1 bench at Twickenham 3:16 The secret backup plan 3:48 2023 final: Plan B in minute three 4:26 France copies it, World Rugby won't ban it 5:40 The All Blacks series and Perth 6:16 The injury list: Snyman, Kwagga, Kolbe 7:14 Etzebeth and Esterhuizen 8:05 How you beat a 7-1 bench 8:24 Turin, Paris, Dublin, Twickenham 8:53 What bench should Rassie pick? THE TOUR Italy v South Africa, Turin, 7 November France v South Africa, Paris, 13 November Ireland v South Africa, Dublin, 21 November Nations Championship Finals Weekend, Twickenham, 27-29 November What bench would you pick for Turin? 7-1, 6-2 or 5-3? Tell me in the comments. SOURCES Bomb Squad origins (Planet Rugby): https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bomb... First 7-1 and "abusing the bench" (SA People): https://www.sapeople.com/sport/rassie... 2023 World Cup final bench (rugby.com.au): https://www.rugby.com.au/news/springb... Deon Fourie on the backup plan (SA Rugby Mag): https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/?p=204844 Kolbe covering scrumhalf (ESPN): https://africa.espn.com/espn/story/_/... World Rugby won't ban the 7-1 (Sowetan): https://www.sowetan.co.za/sport/rugby... World Rugby rejects Owens' call (RUCK): https://www.ruck.co.uk/rugby-news/wor... Esterhuizen the hybrid (EWN): https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/06/29/spri... Baltimore series win (Reuters/The Star): https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/rugb... Perth defeat (RugbyPass): https://www.rugbypass.com/news/spring... Snyman ACL (Rugby365): https://rugby365.com/tournaments/unit... Kwagga Smith injury (The Citizen): https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby... Kolbe out of the tour (Briefly): https://briefly.co.za/sports/rugby/25... Etzebeth update (RugbyPass): https://www.rugbypass.com/news/sharks... Esterhuizen hurt in Cardiff (SA Rugby Mag): https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-t... Steve Hansen on beating the Boks (RugbyPass): https://www.rugbypass.com/news/world-... Tour fixtures (Rugby.com.au): https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2026-na... Footage used for commentary and analysis under fair use. #Springboks #BombSquad #RugbyTactics #NationsChampionship #RassieErasmus