Our Centre Partnership - Moving Forward

[Torn Hammy]

Why is it that when it comes to Australian centres you are either a crashballer or a ball player. Why is it that QC (Quade Cooper) is the only backline member that you could say had

• good hands
• can draw and pass
• can promote the ball
• can put his outside man into a hole

It seems that it is an unwritten law that only the #10 is allowed to have these skills. When did this happen? Horan, Little and the Ellas must shake their heads.

The image I have is that of McCabe at last years RWC with a 3 man overlap and a prop to beat. He runs into the prop, gets smashed, is isolated and turns over the ball. He is the incumbent test IC yet we hear that 'his passing is improving'. Something we haven't said about AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)- we have resigned ourselves to the fact it will not happen. Ioane is a marvelous runner but he must drop or lose the ball one in four times, but that doesn't stop people suggesting he should be a centre.

For a few years now I have observed a young centre with a terrific CV who will shortly be playing S15, but whose passing skills are in my opinion very poor. His hard running has left a gang of superior ball playing centres in his wake. Once again we hear the mantra that 'his passing is improving'. Maybe this is typical of all junior leagues.

When we have the talents of Ioane, JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale as a back three, we need centres with ball skills to make the best use of them.

 

[tigerland12]

I think the backline can be built around Pat McCabe in the centers. He is the type of player we need there, gives Quade a straight running option and not to mention Patty's strong defence. Ideally I'd love to see him at 13.

12- McCabe 13- Ashley-Cooper
12- O'Connor/Tapuai 13- McCabe

 

[What2040]

Like McCabe for his hard and straight running and the lines he takes - like his no nonsense attitude - just wish the bloke was bigger (well over 100kg) and then he would have a spot for many years

 

[AlexH]

O'Connor at 12. A bit wasted on the wing.

The outside backs would never see the ball until O'Connor had chewed up all the space.

Put him at fullback so he can be as selfish as he likes. Stick him on the wing if Beale is good enough to start at fullback again.

 

[TOCC]

How is he overrated.. he was crucial to Wales' WC and 6N success. Why do you think their backline did poorly down here?

He is overrated in the sense that you're taking about selecting/not selecting players to nullify him.. I don't think he is that good that he should determine which wallabies get picked in the backline..

 

[AlexH]

That said, Roberts is probably not a bad litmus test for any player defending the twelve channel. Our team needs to be able to defend against world class players like Nonu, SBW, Francois Steyn and Roberts.

 

[tigerland12]

HA!.................Steyn

 

[redstragic]

I like the idea of 2 hard arses in there. Think Horan and Herbert. Who have we got other than McCabe who is a real hard arse? Finger is tough as nails but not a hard arse in that vein.

 

[AlexH]

HA!.......Steyn

Francois Steyn is not world class? Are you kidding me? Did you not watch the same rugby world cup as me?

He might not be in career form at the moment but he is still one of the best going around these days.

If he was an Australian this would not even be a discussion.

 

[southsider]

I like the idea of 2 hard arses in there. Think Horan and Herbert. Who have we got other than McCabe who is a real hard arse? Finger is tough as nails but not a hard arse in that vein.

problem is horan and herbert also knew how to attack and as someone before pointed out it seems like in the wallabies team everyone is either a ball crasher or a ball player, hard arses you would generally allign with ball crashers and having 2 of those in the centres just wont work (i dont think anyway)

 

[tigerland12]

Just a tongue in cheek comment that he was mentioned in the same sentance as SBW, Roberts and Nonu. If he had a better 10 inside him I suspect he would become World Class, but right now I don't think he should be mentioned in the same sentance as the other three.

 

[redstragic]

problem is horan and herbert also knew how to attack and as someone before pointed out it seems like in the wallabies team everyone is either a ball crasher or a ball player, hard arses you would generally allign with ball crashers and having 2 of those in the centres just wont work (i dont think anyway)

The Blecks centres seem to always be hard as an arse can get an they are very smart footballers who can crash and attack depending on what is required. I agree with you, we have lost that someplace.

 

[qwerty51]

He is overrated in the sense that you're taking about selecting/not selecting players to nullify him.. I don't think he is that good that he should determine which wallabies get picked in the backline..

He may not create the same opportunities SBW might but he's a better crash baller and is tougher to stop ie. dominating the collision.

 

[southsider]

The Blecks centres seem to always be hard as an arse can get an they are very smart footballers who can crash and attack depending on what is required. I agree with you, we have lost that someplace.

especially nonu! early in his career he was just a good crashballer but in the last 2 years or so his developed a really good short-medium range passing game and added some short attacking kicks to his arsenal

 

[TOCC]

He may not create the same opportunities SBW might but he's a better crash baller and is tougher to stop ie. dominating the collision.

I agree he is a very good player... I just don't think he is at the standard where the Wallabies should select players dependant on his availability...

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Francois Steyn is not world class? Are you kidding me? Did you not watch the same rugby world cup as me?

He might not be in career form at the moment but he is still one of the best going around these days.

If he was an Australian this would not even be a discussion.

I think he's one of the most overrated footballers I've ever seen. Huge amounts of talent and yet we've not seen a lot of delivery really. I can count on one hand the amount of truly good games I've seen him play, especially at 12.

 

[TOCC]

i dont think anyone with a hair clip should be in our centres

 

[Scotty]

If we are talking about the current guys that are there or there abouts, who have the greatest potential at test level (combination of size, skills and toughness) I would have the following:

10 Cooper or Beale
11 Ioane
12 Tapuai
13 McCabe
14 JOC (James O'Connor)
15 Morahan

Creative 10s that can also run
Tough and good stepping 12 who can also kick and pass
Hard running 13 who can axe people in defence
One of the best tackle busters going around at 11
A creative and fast 14 who is also strong in tactic
A big and fast 15 who could develop a big boot

That will do me.

 

[Scotty]

I think he's one of the most overrated footballers I've ever seen. Huge amounts of talent and yet we've not seen a lot of delivery really. I can count on one hand the amount of truly good games I've seen him play, especially at 12.

He has always struggle vs the wallabies.

 

[Ruggo]

Horne didn't have a great year but let's put some perspective on it. Basically this has been his first full season without being broken. In its own right that is an acheivement and string a couple of seasons together and he will reach that potential.