Springboks load bench with 7 forwards to take on top-ranked Ireland at Rugby World Cup

South Africa unsurprisingly reverted to its strongest starting lineup to face top-ranked Ireland in a crunch pool game at the Rugby World Cup while also naming seven forwards and just one back on the bench on Tuesday in a clear indication of how the Springboks aim to play.

The defending champion Springboks have gone with a 7-1 bench split just once before, against New Zealand last month in a Rugby World Cup warmup game.

The move was criticized then by some in the game as taking rugby down a dark road of just brute force forward play.

It effectively gives South Africa a new forward pack to bring on in the second half against Ireland at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday. The winner of the game will likely finish top in Pool B and likely avoid a meeting with host France in the quarterfinals, although that will