Substitutes

In the modern rugby game, the need for a strong squad is more important than ever. A good team will not just have selected their best 15 to start, but also the best players on the bench. More and more teams are now using substitutes not just for injury and fatigue cover but as a tactical weapon, sometimes referring to the substitutes as “finishers”. A fresh player coming from the bench can completely change the feel of a game and can swing momentum however for a player this is a real skill.

Typically the first job of a substitute is even before the game has begun, they may be asked to help in the warmup; holding tackle pads, being the opposition for the stating 15, etc. This is so that the starting 15 can get used to working together but also for substitutes, they don’t need to fully get warm to then go sit on the bench. During this time the subs should be very active and vocal so that they get themselves mentally prepared for the game and provide a better environment for the team. A good warmup can lead to a good start in the game which can easily lead to winning the game. Substitutes should take some responsibility for the quality of the warm up and getting the team up to full speed before the starting whistle.

Once the game starts the subs will obviously be on the sideline but that does not make them spectators, they still should be actively engaged in the game. The substitutes should be closely watching how the game is developing on the pitch and how this will affect how they will play their game once they come on. Being on the sideline gives a different perspective than on the pitch so substitutes may be able to spot things that the starting 15 can’t. If playing at a level where the substitutes are expected to bring on water then this is the perfect to point out what has been identified from the sideline.

As rugby is a full contact sport, injuries are an inevitability substitutions. For the oncoming player this can be a real challenge but some preparation can make it much better for themselves and the team. Firstly each substitute should know roughly what positions they might be needed to cover, it is very unlikely for a full back to be asked to fill-in in the forwards but it wouldn’t be surprising for them to be covering as a winger or even as a center. Therefore players should have an understanding of these positions, where they need to be in attack and defence, what their responsibilities are, etc.

The best case scenario for the team is that the substitutes can be used as a tactical decision. The obvious benefit from using a sub is that they are fresh and therefore able to be quicker and more powerful compared to the tired legs of the opposition. As a back this may mean they are able to outpace other players or break through tackles, as a forward this may mean opportunities for counter-rucks and stealing the ball. Subs should look to come on to the pitch and work at a high rate for the remainder of the match, this will not only further tire the opposition but also take some pressure off their own team. It is important to recognise that the subs own team will be fatigued and therefore the player coming on should play accordingly. Just because they are able to run wide and make a small break down the side doesn’t mean their team are able to keep up and support them late in the game.

Some positions will be more likely to be substituted, most notably the front row and the scrum half. This is because they can have very tiring games and fatigue in these players can have a big impact on the team’s performance. If starting in these positions and knowing that the plan is to be substituted off at a certain point it may be worth playing at a higher rate that would not be sustainable for 80mins but would be for 60mins. This means that between the two players, the position will be played at a faster rate which the opposition will have to deal with for the full game. The downfall of this tactic is that if that substitution cannot take place due to injury therefore should be deployed with care.

Some players will find that they are very well suited to being a substitute which can be very frustrating sometimes feeling that they are “not good enough” to get a position in the starting 15. However being a good substitute is a real skill and can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Typically good substitutes are able to cover a wide range of positions for example being able to play 4 to 8 or 12 to 15. This gives the coach good cover for injuries but also a lot of freedom for tactical decision. Also a good substitute is able to get on the pitch and work hard for 20-30 minutes and take control of a game.