Former England hooker Brian Moore advocates for a radical shift in rugby, suggesting a ban on non-injury replacements to address the sport’s size dilemma.
In his view, Bordeaux’s triumph over Saracens on Saturday underscores the prevalence of sheer physicality over finesse, a trend detrimental to rugby’s future aspirations.
Currently, rugby teams can make as many as eight changes during a match and the bench has become increasingly influential on deciding matches.
Writing in the Telegraph, Moore began: “How many forwards does it take to win a game at the very highest levels of rugby? This used to be a simple question; it was eight.
With the current trend of coaches picking a substitutes’ bench with a 6-2 or even 7-1 split of forwards and backs, the answer could be anything between eight and 15.”
He continued: “When it comes to longer term effects, what do you think parents think when they see this rush for size? From direct experience, I can tell you they think this sort of imbalance exists at every level and this dissuades some parents from allowing their kid even to try rugby.
“Restricting the number of substitutes, or banning them save for injury, is one way of forcing players to train to play for longer periods and to shed bulk for aerobic capacity.
“We are heading for a point where certain levels of rugby are not for all shapes and sizes, unless you mean the shape and size is huge and heavy.”
JONAH LOMU’S TOUGHEST OPPONENT:
4. Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
South African rugby legend, known for his exceptional skills as a scrum-half. Van der Westhuizen captivated fans with his speed, agility, and tactical brilliance. A key figure in the Springboks’ 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, his legacy continues to inspire generations of rugby fans.
