Keith Earls and the number 13

First topic message reminder :

So Munster have named Keith Earls at outside centre against Treviso. This is now Earls' third match in a row where he has played 13 and looks set to continue this against Castres and Northampton. Given his past experience here for Munster, Ireland and Lions is he a certainty to play there against Wales?

DOD wrote:At this moment in time Earls is the best OC we have he has been the main replacement there over the last couple of years and 4 of his tries are from OC. Cave and Spence still have a long way to go to make intl level, Griffin looks to me to be the next possible in the position.

Sure he made one mistake against England but had Tuilagi in his pocket for the rest of the game...however am sure it will be mentioned ad naseum for any debate about him.

I bet nobody noticed the lovely pass for the Munster try over Christmas...thougth not. We could mention that every time the debate comes up as well. When BOD started he couldnt pass for sh1t and the less said about his kicking game the better. Yet he was quick off the mark and made up for it through hard work. Earls will play the rest of the season as OC for Munster regardless and I can see him doing well in the Ireland 13. The bigger problem is who to put at 12...

red_stag wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

red_stag wrote:Could we win a HEC with just Botha?

Horan, Varley, Botha
Ryan, POC
O'Mahony, Coughlan, Wallace
Murray, ROG
Earls, Barnes
Zebo, Jones, Hurley

Not with how Munster are playing atm.

Only team to have won every match in their pool and not likely to change next week.

Home Quarter Final. . . very tough to beat in Thomond. Home semi final. Final!!!

I do think we would need home advantage to get to final but we are looking well placed for it. 1st or 2nd seed along with Leinster.

A Semi could be the best we can hope for this year. However it feels a lot like the 2000 campaign in how the team are going. They still have some big games left in them.

red_stag wrote:Could we win a HEC with just Botha?

Horan, Varley, Botha
Ryan, POC
O'Mahony, Coughlan, Wallace
Murray, ROG
Earls, Barnes
Zebo, Jones, Hurley

I don't think so stag but that team isn't half bad.Du Preez is a step up on Horan for me and deserves his share of credit for how the scrum has turned around. I don't think the back line is good enough. That being said it depends on a favourable draw/run. the one thing I would say is that any game wouldn't be a walkover for the opposition.

red_stag wrote:Rory, when you play 10 man rugby it doesn't matter who the backline is. Our pack won us that match.

Ridiculous. Can't even admit that you had foreign players in your side to help win the game, as long as the first 10 men were all irish. Absolutely ridiculous. Some of you really do need to get off your high horse and realise that signings do help win games. They are not a bad thing, and there is a limit to how many are allowed. All the provinces take advantage of this. If any team can field a full irish team it is Leinster, but really it matters little to me how many are irish and how many are not, as I am not that petty. There is a limit, and teams should buy players to assist their campaign, and every team does this.

I've mentioned the Sean Scanlon try twice I think. Its been dismissed both times as nobody saw it.

How is Cave not ready for international level when he is outperforming every other 13? What must he do to be "ready"? I agree Spence/Griffin are not ready, but in what way is Cave any less ready than Earls at 13. Like I said, the reason Earls is the best choice is because he is from Munster.

Finally after 4 pages of postings Rory Gallagher has been proven wrong once and for all. On that note Im off to bed. Night all.

Also the past number of games Munster have won in the HEC required the boot of ROG. That is why I said not with how they are playing atm. And you certainly wouldn't do well with Earls at 12.. unless he improved his distribution and decision making dramatically.

He must first do well in the HC and then in the wolfhounds. On top of the fact he is not as good as Earls/McFadden/Darcy/Fitzgerald possibly O'Malley.

red_stag wrote:Finally after 4 pages of postings Rory Gallagher has been proven wrong once and for all. On that note Im off to bed. Night all.

Proven wrong in what? That Earls is the best option? That Munster have an all irish team? That it is a disappointment for teams to sign foreigners to help them win games? Pretty sure I am wrong in neither of those, so what am I wrong about? Just because you say I am proven wrong before running off to bed, doesn't actually mean I am wrong. So far all I have seen is yourself and Sin spew complete rubbish the past 4 pages, and come up with ridiculous excuses when it comes to Munster fielding foreigners, or why Earls is the best 13.

Please tell me where I am wrong tomorrow, I genuinely want to know what you are talking about.

DOD wrote:He must first do well in the HC and then in the wolfhounds. On top of the fact he is not as good as Earls/McFadden/Darcy/Fitzgerald possibly O'Malley.

He is better than all of those options at 13 (possibly not Fitz, who I think could make a great 13). Have you actually watched him play? He has been playing better than any of those players. He has done very very well in the HC. And Ireland A. Have you ever watched Cave play? Have any of you Munster fans actually seen a rugby match that isn't Munster? Jeez! I have never seen such ridiculous comments.

Standulstermen wrote:The earls to 13 experiment will end one of two ways. Either he will fulfil his potential and Deccie will be vindicated or we will have a similar repeat of the buckley debacle.

I just find it baffling that we move a guy who has had one good game at 13 internationally (same amount as he has had at 15) when he has been excellent numerous times on the wing. If earls doesn't perform in the next two heineken cup games at 13 and is picked there it is a dreadful slap for the likes of cave who have performed week in week out.

Who knows what Deccie will do though. Let's wait and see

Stand - internationally - Earls has had 3 starts at centre and 2 at fullback.
For Munster, something like 20 of his 26 Heineken Cup caps are at centre.

earls has been injured. He has played one Heineken Cup game this season and that was at 13.

Otherwise these are the Heineken Cup games to date:
At 13: 18 games (and all last season).
at 11: 2 games (start of his career).
at 15: 3 games (start of his career).
-----------
Total 23 games - and as he seems to get picked a fair bit the management seem to think he is performing.

Cave has played 15 Heineken Cup in his career to date.

I don't get this slap in the face thing just because he plays week-in, week-out.

Sin

Cave performs week in week out. My point was that earls has had 1 great game at centre and 1 at fullback whils he has had plenty of good games on the wing. We won't know till after the 6N anyway.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Also the past number of games Munster have won in the HEC required the boot of ROG. That is why I said not with how they are playing atm. And you certainly wouldn't do well with Earls at 12.. unless he improved his distribution and decision making dramatically.

Actually, Earls wasn't playing in any of the games that required ROG's boot to sort it out (Earls is only coming back from an ankle injury and played one Heineken Cup game this season against the Scarlets).

I didn't even say Earls was playing in those games Sin..

Standulstermen wrote:Sin

Cave performs week in week out. My point was that earls has had 1 great game at centre and 1 at fullback whils he has had plenty of good games on the wing. We won't know till after the 6N anyway.

Its hard to compare playing well at international level and playing well at club level.

Earls has had plenty of fantastic games for Munster in the centre. You might recall that he was brought in from the wing into the centre with jean de villiers dropped to the bench.

Earls started out on the wing that season - with a bit of changing about between Mafi & Jean de Villiers in the centre. It finished with Earls at 13 and Mafi on the wing/bench.

Cave has to prove himself at Wolfhound level first of all. TBH, I think unless he is really exceptional*, he won't get much of a chance until the summer tour.

*I don't think he has the pace to be exceptional from what I've seen of him when playing just before the world cup in Donnybrook in Ireland v. Connacht. He is a good player, but his pace let him down once or twice and that was against Connacht.

Cave has played Ireland A actually. And you have just contradicted yourself saying Earls has played fantastic games for Munster at centre, but sure club level can't be compared to international level. Very inconsistent Sin. But I am done with this thread tbh, bit of a head melt this is!

Earls form at centre was then 2 seasons ago sin. I don't think we are going to agree but I do hope earls proves his counters wrong and I hope we find a foil for him too.

Cave isn't the quickest but he has the ability to lead a line defensively, put in big hits, exploit mismatches and take the right option at the right time. he has had some distinction in the wolfhounds actually and a couple of impressive performances with McFadden but again that was a while ago.

Murray is an example of someone who didn't have to prove himself at heineken of wolfhound level so that doesn't really stack up either.

Please please can't we all get along? Earls is brilliant as is Cave, why don't we give them 40 mins each?

No room for both. My scenarios are ifs and buts. If earls performs in the next few games at centre, give him a lash at it. If he doesn't I don't believe he should be rewarded with the shirt.

I think the same about other positions as well but this isn't about that.

Let's be honest it doesn't matter how Earls performs between now and the 6 nations, He WILL be 13 for Ireland no matter what, Kidney has already decided!

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I didn't even say Earls was playing in those games Sin..

So which games are you referring to then?

08-09 HC Season (groups)
Munster: Trys For 18; Trys Against 6; Try Bonus 3;
Ulster: TF=13; TA:13. Bonus=0

09-10 HC Season
Munster: TF 19; TA 10; Bonus=3.
Ulster: TF 11; TA 6. Bonus=0.

10-11 HC Season (the one that Ulster made the quarters).
Munster: TF 17; TA 9. Bonus=2.
Ulster: TF15; TA 8. Bonus = 2.

Munster's easy team was London Irish. Ulster's easy team was Aironi !

And for that matter D'arcy will be 12, only injury is going to change this. I never thought I'd say this but in some ways Kidney is starting to seem like EOS regarding selection, I understand Kidney has brought more people through (Sexton for example) but alot of those brought through have been because of injury. Only time Kidney has taken any big deciisons was just before the WC and with some he left out, but I fear he is now going to revert to his old conservative self like Eddie!

Irishhoneymonster wrote:Let's be honest it doesn't matter how Earls performs between now and the 6 nations, He WILL be 13 for Ireland no matter what, Kidney has already decided!

That, I have a massive problem with. anyway gents good night and good luck

Irishhoneymonster wrote:Let's be honest it doesn't matter how Earls performs between now and the 6 nations, He WILL be 13 for Ireland no matter what, Kidney has already decided!

Because of their experience, some players are played back into form. For instance, Tommy Bowe had a very sluggish start to the 6Ns and he still got picked and if you were going on form, Trimble should have been ahead of him for the world cup.

Bowe's form isn't great at the moment, but I bet he will be starting. Same with Luke Fitz - both his coaches rate him. They did everything to get him back into form last season and thankfully now, we are beginning to see again why they persisted with him.

(By the way, I defended Luke big time here as well when people were on his back).

Sin - most peoples argument was that Fitzgerald would of regained his form last season (as opposed to this season) had he been dropped when he should of been.

Its great that hes coming back into form now, but it could of happened much much sooner.

Irishhoneymonster wrote:And for that matter D'arcy will be 12, only injury is going to change this. I never thought I'd say this but in some ways Kidney is starting to seem like EOS regarding selection, I understand Kidney has brought more people through (Sexton for example) but alot of those brought through have been because of injury. Only time Kidney has taken any big deciisons was just before the WC and with some he left out, but I fear he is now going to revert to his old conservative self like Eddie!

Coaches know that players are going to spend something like 30% of their careers injured. And every player knows that they will get their chance then and they have to seize the moment.

The 6Ns isn't a competition to try things out in. That happens on the summer tours and the lesser internationals in the autumn. You don't see any of the SH teams fielding too many newbies in the Tri Nations. They leave all their experimentation to their NH Tours.

Sin é wrote:

Irishhoneymonster wrote:Let's be honest it doesn't matter how Earls performs between now and the 6 nations, He WILL be 13 for Ireland no matter what, Kidney has already decided!

Because of their experience, some players are played back into form. For instance, Tommy Bowe had a very sluggish start to the 6Ns and he still got picked and if you were going on form, Trimble should have been ahead of him for the world cup.

Bowe's form isn't great at the moment, but I bet he will be starting. Same with Luke Fitz - both his coaches rate him. They did everything to get him back into form last season and thankfully now, we are beginning to see again why they persisted with him.

(By the way, I defended Luke big time here as well when people were on his back).

Sin e what I wrote was in response to what is below by Standulsterman. And by the way if Earls had proved himself at 13 the way Bowe has proved himself previously on the wing then I might have agreed with you. But because we're talking about Earls at 13 your point has little validity. And also, I am not suggesting Ealrs be dropped in any way shape or form, I am suggesting he plays 11!



"No room for both. My scenarios are ifs and buts. If earls performs in the next few games at centre, give him a lash at it. If he doesn't I don't believe he should be rewarded with the shirt.

I think the same about other positions as well but this isn't about that. "
.
Standulstermen
Posts: 1685
Join date: 2011-02-16
Age: 28

Artful_Dodger wrote:Sin - most peoples argument was that Fitzgerald would of regained his form last season (as opposed to this season) had he been dropped when he should of been.

Its great that hes coming back into form now, but it could of happened much much sooner.

Luke was trying to get to the world cup - he is still very young and he was just trying too hard and putting too much pressure on himself. The pressure was off him once he didn't make it. Now he is relaxed and will be all the better player for the experience.

Sin é wrote:

Irishhoneymonster wrote:And for that matter D'arcy will be 12, only injury is going to change this. I never thought I'd say this but in some ways Kidney is starting to seem like EOS regarding selection, I understand Kidney has brought more people through (Sexton for example) but alot of those brought through have been because of injury. Only time Kidney has taken any big deciisons was just before the WC and with some he left out, but I fear he is now going to revert to his old conservative self like Eddie!

Coaches know that players are going to spend something like 30% of their careers injured. And every player knows that they will get their chance then and they have to seize the moment.

The 6Ns isn't a competition to try things out in. That happens on the summer tours and the lesser internationals in the autumn. You don't see any of the SH teams fielding too many newbies in the Tri Nations. They leave all their experimentation to their NH Tours.

Well Kidney has had 2 years to rectify this particular predicament to be fair.

I do think Deccie will go for International experience in this one as opposed to current form therefore it will be Earls with possibly Fitz who has been performing well. I am a big Cave fan and but for his injury last year may have forced his way into earlier squads.
I would say however that Cave is currently the best performing 13 in Ireland and will make the extended squad if not the final one.

Irishhoneymonster wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Irishhoneymonster wrote:Let's be honest it doesn't matter how Earls performs between now and the 6 nations, He WILL be 13 for Ireland no matter what, Kidney has already decided!

Because of their experience, some players are played back into form. For instance, Tommy Bowe had a very sluggish start to the 6Ns and he still got picked and if you were going on form, Trimble should have been ahead of him for the world cup.

Bowe's form isn't great at the moment, but I bet he will be starting. Same with Luke Fitz - both his coaches rate him. They did everything to get him back into form last season and thankfully now, we are beginning to see again why they persisted with him.

(By the way, I defended Luke big time here as well when people were on his back).

Sin e what I wrote was in response to what is below by Standulsterman. And by the way if Earls had proved himself at 13 the way Bowe has proved himself previously on the wing then I might have agreed with you. But because we're talking about Earls at 13 your point has little validity. And also, I am not suggesting Ealrs be dropped in any way shape or form, I am suggesting he plays 11!

Its almost as if people are willing Earls to fail. Considering Earls was just back from an injury, he had a fairly decent game against the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup at 13.

The fact that Tommy Bowe's form has not been great on the wing for the Os hasn't stopped them suggesting that he should be played in the centre for the 6Ns

There were a fair few clamouring for Earls to be dropped for Trimble in the world cup even though he was playing fairly well. No one thought Tommy Bowe should be dropped though. Gas then, that Earls was Ireland top try scorer in the world cup.

Gas how people keep moving the goalposts.

Irishhoneymonster wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Irishhoneymonster wrote:And for that matter D'arcy will be 12, only injury is going to change this. I never thought I'd say this but in some ways Kidney is starting to seem like EOS regarding selection, I understand Kidney has brought more people through (Sexton for example) but alot of those brought through have been because of injury. Only time Kidney has taken any big deciisons was just before the WC and with some he left out, but I fear he is now going to revert to his old conservative self like Eddie!

Coaches know that players are going to spend something like 30% of their careers injured. And every player knows that they will get their chance then and they have to seize the moment.

The 6Ns isn't a competition to try things out in. That happens on the summer tours and the lesser internationals in the autumn. You don't see any of the SH teams fielding too many newbies in the Tri Nations. They leave all their experimentation to their NH Tours.

Well Kidney has had 2 years to rectify this particular predicament to be fair.

No he hasn't. The focus for the last 18 months was on the world cup. The next focus is winning the 6Ns. After that, experimentation will start - three Test matches in New Zealand plus more than likely a couple of games with some of the local sides so they will have a chance to gel.

Rava wrote:I do think Deccie will go for International experience in this one as opposed to current form therefore it will be Earls with possibly Fitz who has been performing well. I am a big Cave fan and but for his injury last year may have forced his way into earlier squads.
I would say however that Cave is currently the best performing 13 in Ireland and will make the extended squad if not the final one.

I agree with all of that. Cave will get his chance, but it probably won't be in this 6Ns. There just isn't enough prep time available to integrate him into the team. Pity he can't play any other position because he might be able to make the bench.

Sin é wrote:

Its almost as if people are willing Earls to fail. Considering Earls was just back from an injury, he had a fairly decent game against the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup at 13.

The fact that Tommy Bowe's form has not been great on the wing for the Os hasn't stopped them suggesting that he should be played in the centre for the 6Ns

There were a fair few clamouring for Earls to be dropped for Trimble in the world cup even though he was playing fairly well. No one thought Tommy Bowe should be dropped though. Gas then, that Earls was Ireland top try scorer in the world cup.

Gas how people keep moving the goalposts.

Poppycock! There have been quite a few arguments for and against but I haven't read once where anyone has been willing Earls to fail!

Trimble was the stand out back prior to the World Cup and it is well enough written that he was unlucky not to have had more game time at the World Cup. I don't think Earl's set the world on fire with his performances though I was happy enough with him. Maybe it should be mentioned that Trimble did give him two of the tries on a plate

Sin é wrote:

Irishhoneymonster wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Irishhoneymonster wrote:Let's be honest it doesn't matter how Earls performs between now and the 6 nations, He WILL be 13 for Ireland no matter what, Kidney has already decided!

Because of their experience, some players are played back into form. For instance, Tommy Bowe had a very sluggish start to the 6Ns and he still got picked and if you were going on form, Trimble should have been ahead of him for the world cup.

Bowe's form isn't great at the moment, but I bet he will be starting. Same with Luke Fitz - both his coaches rate him. They did everything to get him back into form last season and thankfully now, we are beginning to see again why they persisted with him.

(By the way, I defended Luke big time here as well when people were on his back).

Sin e what I wrote was in response to what is below by Standulsterman. And by the way if Earls had proved himself at 13 the way Bowe has proved himself previously on the wing then I might have agreed with you. But because we're talking about Earls at 13 your point has little validity. And also, I am not suggesting Ealrs be dropped in any way shape or form, I am suggesting he plays 11!

Its almost as if people are willing Earls to fail. Considering Earls was just back from an injury, he had a fairly decent game against the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup at 13.

The fact that Tommy Bowe's form has not been great on the wing for the Os hasn't stopped them suggesting that he should be played in the centre for the 6Ns

There were a fair few clamouring for Earls to be dropped for Trimble in the world cup even though he was playing fairly well. No one thought Tommy Bowe should be dropped though. Gas then, that Earls was Ireland top try scorer in the world cup.

Gas how people keep moving the goalposts.

Ok for a start I am not most people and I didn't make those comments. I was responding to your suggestion that Bowe will get picked no matter what. I was only saying the difference is that he will get picked at wing where he normally plays. Earls is going to be picked at 13 no matter what even though that is not his usual position ( even if his last 6 games or whatever for Munster have been there). My point is please do not assume I am the same as everyone else in wanting Bowe to start no matter what or something. As far as I am concerned if Bowe isn't performing he should be dropped and Trimble/Earls/Fitzgerald should be on the wings. If Bowe isn't performing and we drop him we'll prob get the best out of him again sooner rather than later, and that is same for others too.....also it will make people who think they are safe (and prob are to be fair) realise that they may not be and have to preform in order to stay in the team!

Point is what I was saying is that no matter how Earls plays he will be 13 and D';arcy will be 12. Talking about Bowe has little validity because he is prob gonna play 14, Earls however will be playing 13, not his best position.

Sin é wrote:

Rava wrote:I do think Deccie will go for International experience in this one as opposed to current form therefore it will be Earls with possibly Fitz who has been performing well. I am a big Cave fan and but for his injury last year may have forced his way into earlier squads.
I would say however that Cave is currently the best performing 13 in Ireland and will make the extended squad if not the final one.

I agree with all of that. Cave will get his chance, but it probably won't be in this 6Ns. There just isn't enough prep time available to integrate him into the team. Pity he can't play any other position because he might be able to make the bench.

I'm glad that Cave is an out and out 13. We have too many "utility" backs. Useful in Club rugby but at International level I prefer to see guys playing in their best position.

Irishhoneymonster wrote:

Ok for a start I am not most people and I didn't make those comments. I was responding to your suggestion that Bowe will get picked no matter what. I was only saying the difference is that he will get picked at wing where he normally plays. Earls is going to be picked at 13 no matter what even though that is not his usual position ( even if his last 6 games or whatever for Munster have been there). My point is please do not assume I am the same as everyone else in wanting Bowe to start no matter what or something. As far as I am concerned if Bowe isn't performing he should be dropped and Trimble/Earls/Fitzgerald should be on the wings. If Bowe isn't performing and we drop him we'll prob get the best out of him again sooner rather than later, and that is same for others too.....also it will make people who think they are safe (and prob are to be fair) realise that they may not be and have to preform in order to stay in the team!

Point is what I was saying is that no matter how Earls plays he will be 13 and D';arcy will be 12. Talking about Bowe has little validity because he is prob gonna play 14, Earls however will be playing 13, not his best position.

I've been saying that since the World Cup and BOD's operation.

Rava wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Its almost as if people are willing Earls to fail. Considering Earls was just back from an injury, he had a fairly decent game against the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup at 13.

The fact that Tommy Bowe's form has not been great on the wing for the Os hasn't stopped them suggesting that he should be played in the centre for the 6Ns

There were a fair few clamouring for Earls to be dropped for Trimble in the world cup even though he was playing fairly well. No one thought Tommy Bowe should be dropped though. Gas then, that Earls was Ireland top try scorer in the world cup.

Gas how people keep moving the goalposts.

Poppycock! There have been quite a few arguments for and against but I haven't read once where anyone has been willing Earls to fail!

Trimble was the stand out back prior to the World Cup and it is well enough written that he was unlucky not to have had more game time at the World Cup. I don't think Earl's set the world on fire with his performances though I was happy enough with him. Maybe it should be mentioned that Trimble did give him two of the tries on a plate

Read the posts. For instance, "If Earls doesn't perform in the next HCup games" etc. etc. I don't hear anyone posting : "If Bowe doesn't perform ... " or "If Luke doesn't perform... " or if 'O'Malley doesn't perform ?.

Did you think Tommy Bowe set the world alight? (I didn't, and I don't recall anyone shouting for him to be dropped for Trimble).

Maybe it should also be mentioned that there is no way Trimble would have been able to actually finish one of those tries that Earls scored.

Together standing taaaaaalllll....

That's cause this thread is about Keith earls sin. On other threads I have clearly said Bowe shouldn't be starting. Far too defensive sir.

Rory, you need to develop a thicker skin. Everyone knew Stag was taking the pish. I don't know if Earls is the best OC Ireland have ( he hasn't really played there often enough to tell) but he is certainly up there. No problem with gving the guy a shot.

Sin é wrote:
There were a fair few clamouring for Earls to be dropped for Trimble in the world cup even though he was playing fairly well. No one thought Tommy Bowe should be dropped though. Gas then, that Earls was Ireland top try scorer in the world cup.

Well there you go then Sin, that proves conclusively once and for all that the whole world is against Earls and Munster and you are quite entitled to that huge chip on your shoulder.....except for one minor detail...numerous posters have been suggesting that Bowe should be dropped for the 6N so maybe there is a conspiracy against Monaghan natives too?

There's no way Earls should play 13 in the 6N cause he's from Munster and has a rubbish haircut and I don't like his face and a fella down the pub told me the Earlses are relatives of the Hitlers and what's more he's defensively suspect.

Sometimes, I wish he would just fail.

Course, Darren Cave is Northern and slow and lazy and unproven at PRO 12 level...

Michael Allen is young and hasn't had many chances to make high-profile mistakes. Let's have him.

in conclusion if Sin É puts up an arguement for Earls = Munster bias

Everyone else is clearly being objective and open minded even if a lot are talking about a decent player who doesnt look international class to the coaching staff not to mind some of us with red tinted glasses.

Just to note at this stage if Earls keeps scoring at the rate he is he will bypass or equal BODs try scoring record clearly he is rubbish.

Sin quoting Keith Earls's try scoring record sort of illustrates why he should start on the wing, not centre no?

I know he's scored tries from pretty much every position he's played, but his best attribute is his finishing. As a winger he's more likely to be in positions to do just that. Say if we bring in Trimble to replace BOD and change nothing else, I'd prefer Earls to stay on the wing and Trimble to remain at 13 even though he's also better on the wing. More physicality to the role. Similarly with Bowe who has more vision than Earls.

There's very clear reasons people are giving for wanting Earls in the back three and not the centre, so there's no point bringing provincial bias into it again, as always. Nobody wants him dropped. Lots of people just genuinely believe he's a very good winger and doesn't have the full skill set for centre.

However the people who are arguing for Earls to play centre have convinced me that he should get a shot. It's true that BOD started out as an attacking sensation and only acquired his all round game over a few seasons and hard work.

I'm willing to accept now that Earls can potentially do the same. I wonder will he be daunted by having to fill BOD's boots? He's had a little bit of trouble with self confidence and belief in himself in the past hasn't he?

He went to a pschologist last season with those problems Feckless or so goes the story. I would back Earls to the hilt and wouldn't mind seeing him have a cut there. He has constantly been shifted around the backline so let's give him a chance to stake a claim.

Thomond wrote:He went to a pschologist last season with those problems Feckless or so goes the story. I would back Earls to the hilt and wouldn't mind seeing him have a cut there. He has constantly been shifted around the backline so let's take him off the wing where he's been very settled and scoring consistently for Ireland and randomly shove him in the centre.

Notch his best season for Munster was in the centres......... I don't think he is a centre but sure what's the harm in trying?
Interestingly the ulster contingent are the ones who are against it while the Leinster lads are okay with it. I suppose they recognise natural talent.