The pushback to the Springboks’ new Bomb Squad sets up an ideal scenario of ‘it’s us against them’ for Rassie Erasmus and the world champions, writes GAVIN RICH.

Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber have almost exclusively relied on six forwards and two backline replacements during their tenure, but took it one step further with a 7-1 bench more than a week ago, which helped South Africa hand the All Blacks the biggest defeat in their history.

However, it has also resulted in an uproar, with calls for World Rugby to limit the number of substitutions that a team can make, and Australian coach Matt Williams even argued that the Boks’ exploitation of the laws on substitutions is a safety issue and “against the spirit of the game”.

Speaking after the Boks finished their pre-World Cup camp in Corsica, Erasmus said they have not been overly phased by the reaction to their latest innovation, and writing for SuperSport.com, Rich suggests that SA’s director of rugby is likely “secretly pleased” with the negativity towards the Webb Ellis Cup holders.

ALSO: Rassie ‘not bothered’ by Bomb Squad furore

“In recent years there’s been much focus on the Boks, such as the waterboy saga during the British & Irish Lions series, that can be viewed as an attempt to distract or undermine,” he writes.

“Whatever the motivation behind the outcry overseas, there is one thing that is certain – Erasmus is right when he says this time there’s no question of him or the Boks transgressing any rugby law.

“He’s right, too, about being unsurprised that there’d be pushback against something that is ‘new’.

“Yet while Erasmus says he’s a bit perplexed by the reaction though not surprised, he might be secretly pleased about the negative focus on his team from the world’s media.

“It sets up a scenario of ‘It’s us against them’ or ‘It’s us against the world’ and ‘Let’s go out and show them and rub their noses in it’ that the 2019 World Cup-winning coach loves.”

Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix