Van Graan shares ‘gut-feel’ about Bomb Squad

Bath boss Johann van Graan says the English club is working diligently at the “science” behind the forwards-heavy bench ploy first made famous by the Springboks.

Speaking with Planet Rugby following Bath’s narrow win against Exeter on Saturday, Van Graan outlined the Premiership front-runners’ calculated use of the 6-2 and 7-1 bench splits – the brainchild of two-time World Cup-winning Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.

Bok prop Thomas du Toit is a key member of Bath’s front row, while their ‘Bomb Squad’ is often packed with internationals like Beno Obano and Ross Molony.

“I’d like to say yes [there is a formula],” Van Graan told Planet Rugby. “We as a group have learned what works for us [with the Bomb Squad], but every team does it differently; some other teams have used it against us in different ways.

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“There is some science behind it, and sometimes it’s a gut-feel, but I think it’s important that the players get clarity on what you as the coach want.

“If you look at our performances, their impacts usually pull us through most of the time. Yes, there is a science, but we just want to get that better and better each time.”

Erasmus raised eyebrows with the 7-1 evolution of his Japan 2019 strategy, during the 2023 World Cup warm-up match against the All Blacks.

He then pushed the nuclear button twice at the global showpiece itself, for the pool defeat to Ireland and the final against New Zealand, which the Boks won 12-11.

France coach Fabien Galthie successfully deployed the tactic during Les Bleus’ title-winning Six Nations campaign this year.

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