Matt Williams has called on World Rugby to introduce a rule forcing teams to select three backs on their bench. It comes after South Africa named seven forwards among their replacements for Saturday's victory over the All Blacks.
Initially, South Africa had selected six forwards on their bench but versatile back Willie le Roux was forced to withdraw prior to kick-off. Rather than replace Le Roux with another back, they instead chose Kwagga Smith. South Africa won the game 35-7.
"World Rugby should have seen this coming because for years teams - not just South Africa but France - were picking a six-two bench. It should never have been allowed get to this," former Leinster and Scotland head coach Williams told the VMTV Rugby pod.
"All World Rugby had to say was 'Three of your bench have to be recognised backs'. That's all they had to do and this problem would not be there. What South Africa did the other day I think is totally against the spirit of the game, and certainly totally against player safety. I am just totally against this.
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"World Rugby should act in the next week and say 'During the World Cup, you need three recognised backs on your bench' - problem over. The fact that they haven't, South Africa are not breaking any rules.
"It is a blight on the game that needs to be stopped now. What's going to happen is exactly what happened on Saturday. The outside backs should have bought tickets in the stand because they were just spectators. South Africa played the game between their forwards and their scrum-half.
"They've got quality backs, quality players right across the team. It is not the way the game should be played, nor is it in the spirit of the game.
"That's the first part. The second part is they are opening themselves up to karma and believe me, there is karma in rugby. Karma means if you've only got one back on your bench and you get two injuries or a sin bin or a sending off, you're in serious trouble. The South Africans are rolling the dice. Murphy's Law is another way of putting it - what can go wrong, will go wrong."
Williams reaffirmed his belief that the six-two bench split should also be outlawed.
"You should always be forced to have three backs on your bench," he added.
"We want forward to be fatigued, not to be like linemen in American football who get three minutes rest and can be substituted on and off. That's not what the game was. It's the ultimate team sport, rugby.
"In my opinion, you should be allowed make substitutions at half-time or the 60-minute mark. Those substitutions should be limited to an extent.
"Doing what South Africa are currently doing is wrong for the global game. Imagine we started seeing this at schoolboys level or U20s. What's going to happen to our backlines?"
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