Rolling subs is the way forward, says Johnson
ENGLAND team manager Martin Johnson is backing the introduction of rugby league-style rolling substitutes to ensure that the Harlequins fake-blood scandal never happens again.
The proposal is one of 16 being considered by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to restore the sport’s reputation.
And Johnson admitted he agreed with the views of the RFU’s Image of the Game task force which they felt not only benefited the welfare of the injured player but also eradicated any possibility of cheating.
“Some form of rolling substitutions needs to be looked at,” Johnson said. “I liked it when 15 guys had to battle it out and you had to be fit for 80 minutes, but you come around to thinking about it as a possibility.
“Player safety is an issue with players getting bangs on the head. It needs to be looked at carefully and I am sure it will be trialled. Maybe it is inevitable.”