South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has dismissed criticism of his side naming seven forwards and one back on their for Saturday's Rugby World Cup clash with Ireland.
Former Scotland head coach Matt Williams said the decision "is not morally correct", adding that he believes the tactic could have repercussions for player safety if replicated at the lower levels of the game.
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Ex-Ireland captain Keith Wood told Off The Ball that he thinks rules will be changed after the World Cup to ensure teams can't have a seven-one bench split.
5 November 2022; Eben Etzebeth of South Africa in action against Robert Baloucoune, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
"I think it'll change after the World Cup," said Wood.
"I don't think it'll be allowed to happen going forward. It's within the law and I think [South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus] is playing to his strengths.
"The idea of coming up with something novel is something he's consistently done for the last period of time.
"I was talking to a group of South Africans a few weeks ago and I said 'He's never done anything novel. He's very boring. He doesn't think outside the box' and of course they all reacted, they didn't understand sarcasm.
"He tested it a couple of weeks ago [against New Zealand]. I don't think it's right but it's within the laws of the game. I don't think it's wrong either, in that instance.
"I don't know that it's necessarily fair. It works to the advantage of teams that have huge forwards. [South Africa] tend to rely exclusively on that sense of having giants of men.
"If you go back to the original view of the game, it's a game for people of all sizes. It's to try and have it so it's safe and fair."
Nienaber said "if there is innovation in any sport it gets reaction, positive or negative".
1 November 2022; Captain Siya Kolisi, right, with head coach Jacques Nienaber, left, during South Africa rugby squad training at UCD in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
"This is obviously unique, it is the first time a team has named seven forwards and one back on the bench so that is why I would say it's innovation. That will get reaction," he continued.
"In terms of player safety, I don't get that. I know nothing stops anyone else doing it and it will be a sad day, I think, if you're innovative in the laws of the game and then they would change that.
"It's not against the laws of the game and I don't think it has any bearing on player safety at all."
Asked if he selects his bench before the starting team, Nienaber replied, "that's a tough one".
"In our team, because I don't know other teams, our bench isn't necessarily what I would call a bench," he said.
"Sometimes people get an idea that if you are on the bench you are probably not as good as the guy who starts. But like we have said numerous times, with the team and squad we have here that is not necessarily the case.
"I won't say we start with the bench, we select 23. I know it is probably a cliché but that is genuinely how we do it. They are selected for specific reasons."
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi called the tactic "a risk".
"It is a big test, it's also a risk as well, but you must be willing to take those kinds of risks to see whether things work or not," said Kolisi.
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