Serious strength and physicality will be fundamental for success but rolling mauls will not win over neutrals
As the earth shook and small children dived for cover, it also felt a touch unfair. The laws of the game do not specifically state the replacements’ bench must also feature some backs as well as forwards but perhaps, in future, they should. South Africa did send on a solitary three- quarter in Cobus Reinach, usually a scrum-half, to play on the wing in the final quarter but a uniquely muscular statement had long since been made.
There is a balance to be struck, just as there was back in Jonah Lomu’s day. When Lomu first emerged he was a phenomenon, not simply because he was huge but because he was unstoppably rapid, too. When hein the World Cup semi-final in Cape Town in 1995, it was carnage.
No one is remotely saying these giants, per se, are bad for the sport. One of the joys of watching the Fijians is their forwards’ ability to run and handle like backs – and who could ever forget the freight-train genius of Rupeni Caucaunibuca at the 2003 World Cup? Those suggesting Fiji overcame England despite playing slightly below themselves are merely stating the truth. As and when Levani Botia and Josua Tuisova are back involved they will be even better.
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