Tom Carter

[Scotty]

We just need to clone T Carter and Q Cooper into a single attacking and defensive superstar and Bobs your uncle.

About to say something similar to this when I read your post. The releasing of the Tahs backline is not solely down to Carter. Barnes has much more of a say in this, and the fact is that Barnes is not a running, wide passing flyhalf. He is more of a Wilkinson than a Cooper. That is fine as long as Tahs have a big roll on and have their short passing game working in and close to contact.

Put Cooper inside Carter and I reckon you'd see a different backline in attack (albeit one that leaks a few extra tries). Horne and Beale could run as wide as their hearts desire, and they'd know that Cooper could still get the ball to them.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

While it might have been justified during a game where others around him were struggling, this type of play has not been isolated to this game. He's shown a lack of awareness to either create or pass before, both this season and last.

This may have been raised but I think he's an in-betweener that hasn't really settled on the sort of role he wants to play as a midfielder. He's not really a 2nd playmaker but the concern is that for him and the Tahs is that the guy in 13 isn't one either. Additionally, if he wants to be a crash baller or a guy that wants to take on the line more often than not, he needs a 13 that will be a distributor.

Again though if he wants to be a genuine 2nd 5/8 (ie playmaker) then he's going to have to work on his vision.

Agreed and it's rugby belief of mine, that you can't really have two of the same kind of centres in the midfield. One has to be a distributor and the other straight running, hard tackling block buster. It doesn't matter hugely which jersey they have on their back, but I believe you need both.

 

[Gnostic]

Hornet - the best centre pairing Oz has ever fielded didn't conform to your equation (ie Horan and Little) but I do agree with the thrust of your argument. I have always talked abut team balance an this a a part of it.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

They were an interesting combination, I agree. Both Timmy and Jase could realistically do both jobs. Excellent defenders both of them and straight runners, but good hands to go with it. Horan in particular was the absolute complete article when it came to a centre, there wasn't a a glaring weakness in his game. Little ended up losing his job to Dan Herbert though, who was the archetypical crash ball hard man (that's not a criticism, BTW).

 

[spectator]

When you think about it, the centre pairing is one of the most important combinations on the field and an essential ingredient for team success. Probably should be another thread but apart from Horan/Little, what have been some of the best in international rugby?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think the current AB and Bok partnerships are first class.

JdV and Fourie are excellent, as are Nonu and Smith.

 

[spectator]

Sela and Cordoneau(sp) were up there with the best.

 

[Scarfman]

This thread is a disgrace. Not one person has used Tom's official G&GR nickname, "Chariots." Get with the program people.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I think the current AB and Bok partnerships are first class.

JdV and Fourie are excellent, as are Nonu and Smith.

The key is they compliment each other. The Mauger/Umaga one was good too when Umaga was less distributor and more of his rugged attacking best. Giteau and Mortlock were effective, and were at their best with Bernie running the ship

 

[Gnostic]

Guscot and Carling are the classic complementary centre pairing IMO.

 

[spectator]

Will someone with a better IT intellect than me transfer the last 6 posts (sans Scarfy's rant so 5) to a new thread titled "Best Centre pairings". I would if I could, but I can't.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The key is they compliment each other. The Mauger/Umaga one was good too when Umaga was less distributor and more of his rugged attacking best. Giteau and Mortlock were effective, and were at their best with Bernie running the ship

Yep, and that's what I've been getting at.

In terms of historical centre pairings that have worked well:

Horan and Little (obviously)
Horan and Herbert
Mesnel and Sella
Charvet and Sella
Papworth and Slack
Lynagh and Slack (albeit briefly)
Guscott and Carling (as Gnostic pointed out)
Little and Bunce
Taylor and Stanley

 

[Scotty]

In almost all of the top pairings one of the players was a great probably the best or close to the best back in the world at the time (eg sella, horan, mortlock) and the other was good but more importantly complimentary.

 

[Scotty]

Would also d'arcy and bod to the list. Obviously only when the former was fit and in form.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Yep and I thought of a couple more:

Giteau and Mortlock
Greenwood and Tindall [Greenwood was one of the most underrated players I've seen and Tindall at his peak was very effective]

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

In almost all of the top pairings one of the players was a great probably the best or close to the best back in the world at the time (eg sella, horan, mortlock) and the other was good but more importantly complimentary.

It must have been great to watch Sella and Horan together at Sarries.

 

[Lindommer]

Carter and ??????????????? Some poor 13 who never gets the pill, and so never gets to show his wares.
















Bugger, I give up.

 

[waratahjesus]

This debate won't matter next year anywaybwith AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 12 tucking it under his wing, doing the same as Carter but being universally praised for it

 

[cyclopath]

This thread is a disgrace. Not one person has used Tom's official G&GR nickname, "Chariots." Get with the program people.

I tried Scarfy - used it in the match thread. Maybe we should change his nickname to "Shit-magnet" as that seems to reflect his aura round here better?

 

[Gnostic]

Yep, and that's what I've been getting at.

In terms of historical centre pairings that have worked well:

Horan and Little (obviously)
Horan and Herbert
Mesnel and Sella
Charvet and Sella
Papworth and Slack
Lynagh and Slack (albeit briefly)
Guscott and Carling (as Gnostic pointed out)
Little and Bunce
Taylor and Stanley

Didn't Anthony pair with with Horan a couple of times as well 92 or 93. He was even bigger than Daniel if memory serves me.