FILE PHOTO-Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with a ball, flanked by Wallabies players Andrew Kellaway and Reece Hodge at a news conference, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne, Australia, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Ian Ransom/File Photo
(Reuters) - Australia are unlikely to copy South Africa’s forward-based game plan at the Rugby World Cup, but coach Eddie Jones says the Springboks’ "bold and courageous" use of their bench should be viewed as innovation and not a threat to the game.
South Africa inflicted a record 35-7 defeat on New Zealand in their final World Cup warm-up fixture in London last week, using a 7-1 split between forwards and backs on their bench.
