Law trials designed to speed up the game – including 30-second shot clocks for setting scrums and 60 seconds to kick goals – will be used in the upcoming Rugby Championship and could dampen the impact of South Africa’s giant “bomb squad″⁣ – a collection of up to seven forwards who are injected from the bench in the second half of a Test.

That’s the view of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt leading in to Australia’s first Rugby Championship clash with the world champion Springboks in Brisbane on Saturday.

Before their second consecutive World Cup title last year, the Rassie Erasmus-coached Boks began using a radical new strategy where they named only one back on an eight-man bench. In a game against the All Backs, the Boks rolled on seven forward reserves at the same time early in the second half. Erasmus put on six forwards at the same time against Ireland in July.

Most teams usually have a five forward-three back split.

The tactic amounts to deploying an almost entirely new forward pack, and the Boks are able to ratchet up their traditional power game. It has proved successful, and the bomb squad has developed a cult status. In a documentary about their World Cup win, lock RG Snyman says of the Bomb Squad’s entry: “You can just see them retreat: not physically but mentally.”

But the tactic has also drawn criticism. Former Waratahs coach turned TV pundit Matt Williams decried it as against the spirit of the game and “abusing our safety rules”.

Debate in the game has also sprung up about ways to ensure fatigue, which can assist in opening the game up late, remains a factor.

Schmidt said he believed that was the case but suggested that the law trials being used in the Rugby Championship could reduce the effectiveness of picking a team of giants.

World Rugby announced in May a suite of law changes and law trials to speed the game up, and SANZAAR are set to announce the Rugby Championship will be using several of them – including a 30-second shot clock for teams to set a scrum and lineout, and a 60-second shot clock for penalty kicks and conversions.

“I think there is still fatigue in the game and if a bomb squad member comes on at half-time they’ve still got to play 40 minutes,” Schmidt said.

One of the challenges is to keep players moving from set piece to set piece. With the new law trials, 30 seconds to set a scrum, 30 seconds to have that line-out under way, [and it is] 60 seconds not 90 seconds for a conversion now. I think some of those times are being contracted a little bit and maybe that will impact on the size of the player.

“And there are risks. Talking to [Blues coach] Vern Cotter … around the Blues this year, with the 6-2 split got two injuries very early on in their back line and played a halfback on the wing for the whole of the second half. So you can get stung by it.

Any innovation is great until it’s not, I guess.”

The smaller Wallabies will be keen for as much speed in the game as possible in Brisbane, particularly with Schmidt electing to not call giant lock Will Skelton back from France.

Schmidt said he has been open about backing locally based players but revealed he has spoken to Skelton several times and there is possibility he could join the Wallabies later in the month. But he also said the 145kg forward may not be back in gold until the Spring Tour.

“As good a player as Will is with the experience he has, if he arrives here and he’s fatigued, and he goes back there and he’s fatigued, and we’re trying to get him backwards and forwards, it’s not necessarily going to add the amount of value we’d like it to add,” Schmidt said.

We’ve had a few discussions, Will and I, and he’s a great fella to talk to. He obviously watched our games during July very closely … and we have chatted about him potentially being involved later in the Championship.”

Schmidt said he had selected Marika Koroibete based on his extensive experience, both as an on-field asset and as an influence for young players. After returning from another foot injury, Angus Bell is fit and will be considered for selection in the front row.

Schmidt said the Springboks looked “pretty impressive” in the drawn series with Ireland in July.

“They have guys who played a lot of Test match footy together,” he said. “I’ve coached against most of them over a number of years with Ireland and New Zealand. I probably know them better than I know us.”