Former Wales flanker Sam Warburton describes hits in Test rugby as ‘brutal thuggery’ – and suggests that some of the Rugby World Cup’s games have taken physicality to ‘another level’

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Last weekend, packed stadiums in Paris and Marseille took in four wondrous World Cup quarter-finals and saw rugby taken to a new level of intensity and physicality. The brutality of the collisions came across as clear as day even to those watching at home.

An average of 3.9million people tuned in across the last-eight matches on ITV. It was spectacular viewing. Rugby fans are primed for another battle royale when England look to upset South Africa and reach a second consecutive final.

‘Rugby today is just brutal,’ ex-Wales captain and two-time Lions skipper Sam Warburton told Mail Sport. ‘I watched the South Africa and Ireland game and last weekend’s quarter-finals and wondering what someone who had never seen rugby in detail before would have made of it.

‘I’m sure they were thinking, “What on earth is happening? Is this just outright thuggery?” The collisions were huge. I was out of breath watching it. The 2009 Lions tour took rugby’s physicality to a new height and some of the games at this World Cup have taken it to another level again.’

As a former openside flanker, Warburton knows more than most about the requirements of international rugby having played arguably the most physically demanding position on the field. Injury forced him to retire in 2018.

Ex-Wales captain and ex-Lions skipper Sam Warburton pointed out the brutality of modern Test rugby collisons

Warburton shared that he used to ‘crawl like a toddler learning to crawl’ after taking big hits

‘I remember saying to my wife it isn’t natural what I’m putting my body through,’ Warburton said. ‘The morning after a game, I used to crawl up the stairs like a toddler learning to walk.

‘My wife would laugh but I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel like that. I was told being involved in an international game was the equivalent of a small car crash. If you’re hitting that level of physicality in 15 games a year, you can see the toll it takes on your body.’

No team present more of a physical challenge than South Africa. England will try to match them at the Stade de France with their own version of the Springbok ‘bomb squad’.

All players from the top international teams wear GPS trackers during matches which allow backroom staff to analyse their performance. Statistics from this World Cup show South Africa have a 55 per cent success rate at crossing the advantage line with every carry. Just under 40 per cent of their carries are seen as ‘dominant.’

Official data measuring the size of collisions endured by players in terms of force remains limited. But a 2020 research paper from the Australian Catholic University shows that in an elite match, forwards will average roughly a collision per minute. For a back, it’s one every two minutes.

The paper, written by Wales’ head of sports science Ryan Chambers, reports that on average a player will complete 30 rucks and tackles per game. The physical demands are huge.

At the start of this World Cup, Wales made a tournament record 253 tackles against Fiji. The Ireland and New Zealand quarter-final had a ball in play time of 41 minutes and 54 seconds.

‘South Africa competed on the ball 80 times against France,’ Warburton said. ‘The teams who won the quarter-finals were the ones to compete hard at the ruck.

‘New Zealand did it and I thought England were very good at it. They stepped up massively. They doubled their efforts.

‘You’ve got to stop teams playing and you do that at the breakdown. South Africa are so aggressive there. If you excel in that area now you give yourself a great chance. You could probably switch off at more rucks when I was playing.’

Marcus Smith picked up a nasty knock during England’s quarter-final clash against Fiji 

England defence coach Kevin Sinfield admitted they were ‘in awe’ of the power the Springboks showed when knocking out the hosts. Now, it is their turn to deal with it. England No 8 Ben Earl is conceding 18 kilos to his opposite number Duane Vermeulen. ‘It’s sink or swim,’ Earl said. ‘Let’s hope I swim.’

South Africa possess players with the sort of raw physicality and power other teams struggle to match which is why, although they may not admit it, they prefer games with a low ball in play time. That allows them to maximise the number of high power output instances in a match.

South Africa’s unusual decision to call a scrum from a mark against France was a good example.

‘It’s 70-30 in favour of South Africa but I still think England have a huge performance in them,’ said Warburton. ‘I think they can shock people. If I was in the England camp I’d be genuinely excited about the prospect of a final. It’s not a foregone conclusion. It’s definitely there for England if they want it.’ 

Sam Warburton was speaking on behalf of Sage, Official Supporter of Rugby World Cup 2023.

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