A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards: Last Saturday provided two of the most interesting contests in recent Six Nations history. First Italy stunned Scotland in Rome, before a superb English production the Grand Slam-chasing Irish
But more than tongue wagging and punters’ longing, these two results have revived a narrative that has been churning since the 2019 World Cup. It revolved around the use of six forwards and two backs on the bench, a strategy employed by both the Scots and the Irish, as they were defeated by teams adopting a more traditional five-on-three formation. Many heralded it as a triumph of the spirit of rugby. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
“It was kind of reassuring to see six-two not working,” Jones said. “I think six-two, and obviously even worse seven-one, put too much of a premium on power for me. If we try to move the game towards evasion instead of skirmish, which I think most people agree that the game has to find that perfect balance between a skirmish and a skirmish game, a six-two can actually emerge. Just food for thought.” A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
The first involves the belief that stacking the bench with “huge mutants”, as former Welsh back-rower Alex Popham described South Africa’s beefy forwards last year, is somehow unfriendly to the spirit of the game; That this perfectly legal technique is like stepping into a boxing ring with loaded gloves. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
But this misses a fundamental principle of rugby which emphasizes clashing with pride. The game has always been about power, grunt and ballast.
Vasion is definitely a staple that can’t be completely jettisoned. And who doesn’t love to see a speedy winger beat the front rower to the line for a mismatch? But it’s implied that a helter-skelter game is inherently more impressive than a game filled with blockbuster hits. Not believing? A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
Take a look at the two benches in last year’s World Cup quarter-final between France and South Africa. The two teams split six-two in one of the greatest matches in the history of the game. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
In 1924 the New Zealand Board proposed an idea that would “allow injured players to be substituted with the consent of the opposing captain.” This is rejected. In 1926, 1932 and 1933 there were also calls for reform of the regime.
But they were still used almost exclusively as injury replacements and the oval ball was not welcome wherever it was kicked.
A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards and two backs as its eight options for a match.
This changed in 1968 when Australia tabled a proposal to change the substitution laws to allow two substitutions per match and only after a physician declared the starting player ineligible to continue. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
By 1972 substitutes were present in all international matches. In 1990 the number of permitted options increased to three. In 1992 this became four and quickly increased to six and a seventh was added to provide a full team of specialist front-rowers. Since 2009, coaches have had the option to replace their entire pack with eight players available from the bench if they wish. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
But focusing on the benefits ignores the enormous scale of the risks. As Ireland found out the hard way against England, picking two backs could be counterproductive. After winger Calvin Nash left the field and failed to return after being assessed as a failure after just five minutes, and then utility back Ciaran Frawley himself later suffered a knock, the Six-Two fans’ worst fears were realised. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards
At various points Farrell covered his star full-back, Hugo Keenan, and his leading scrum-half, Jamieson Gibson-Park, on the wing. Although they both performed more than competently – with Gibson-Park setting up a try – it meant that the usually efficient Irish machine was not operating at full capacity. A 6-2 split is when a team selects six forwards