Most versatile player

Just wondering what player is the most versatile in the positions he can play (still playing today).

I'd probably think James O'Connor is up there - 10, wing, centre and FB are positions that he's played. James Hook can cover 10, centre and FB.

Looking at players in Wales -:
Ryan Jones, 4, 5, 6, 8
Aaron Shingler 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Andrew Coombs 4, 5, 6, 8
Hook 10, 12, 13, 15
Roberts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Halfpenny 11, 14, 15
North 11, 13, 14
Preistland 10, 12, 15
Biggar 10, 15

That's about it for players who are actually up to standards elsewhere

Hogg can cover 10, centre and FB. Any backs that cover forwards or vice-versa? Nonu in the past is my thought

There's a Fijian player who plays prop and wing...

Croft 6,11,14.

Reckon Tipuric and Read would make decent centres

Hooper played a lot of that Lions test at 12 and did fine

Roland Reid covered the entire back row and wing positions for Scotland. Rubbish in every position mind.

Chris Paterson played across the back three and at stand-off, and Austin Healey played 9, 10 and wing for Leicester at various stages,

JOC probably wins though. He's played every position in the backline other than 9, and to a pretty decent standard each time.

He'd probably be OK as a sniping 9 as well

Nematode wrote:Hogg can cover 10, centre and FB. Any backs that cover forwards or vice-versa? Nonu in the past is my thought

I remember Radike Samo playing on the wing in the 2011 World Cup for the Aussies, normally a no.8/second row.

I didn't realise Samo had played second row - thought it was just 8 and wing.

Tom Youngs used to play centre I think, and there's been much talk/joking on the Scottish boards that Richie Vernon ought to be moved to the centre.

There was a player for Newcastle (Epi Taione?) that used to switch between the back row and wing as well if I recall correctly.

Vernon?

F Steyn - 10,11,12,13,14,15
R Pienaar - 9, 10, 11, 14, 15

McCaw: he plays God, the devil, the ref, and angel every game.      

Thats not a joke richie vernon has moved to centre !
Andy farrell was a bad blindside flanker and inside centre.

I would say George Smith was pretty versitle being world class at 6,7 and 8 and then playing centre for stade francais. Austin healey also played 9,10,12,13,14,15 to international level in most.

Stephen Ferris has played 4,6,7,8,12

funnyExiledScot wrote:I didn't realise Samo had played second row - thought it was just 8 and wing.

Tom Youngs used to play centre I think, and there's been much talk/joking on the Scottish boards that Richie Vernon ought to be moved to the centre.

There was a player for Newcastle (Epi Taione?) that used to switch between the back row and wing as well if I recall correctly.

Richie Vernon has officially moved to centre. There was a Planet Rugby feature on him recntly

Bathite wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I didn't realise Samo had played second row - thought it was just 8 and wing.

Tom Youngs used to play centre I think, and there's been much talk/joking on the Scottish boards that Richie Vernon ought to be moved to the centre.

There was a player for Newcastle (Epi Taione?) that used to switch between the back row and wing as well if I recall correctly.

Richie Vernon has officially moved to centre. There was a Planet Rugby feature on him recntly

Ah, that's why he hasn't played!

MMaaxx wrote:F Steyn - 10,11,12,13,14,15
R Pienaar - 9, 10, 11, 14, 15

Frans days of 11 or 14 are long gone.... that was before he was introduced to the crossiant.

Bergamasco?

WP Nel, prop and should-be wing

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Looking at players in Wales -:
Ryan Jones, 4, 5, 6, 8
Aaron Shingler 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Andrew Coombs 4, 5, 6, 8
Hook 10, 12, 13, 15
Roberts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Halfpenny 11, 14, 15
North 11, 13, 14
Preistland 10, 12, 15
Biggar 10, 15

That's about it for players who are actually up to standards elsewhere

Wouldn't fancy Coombs or Shingler at 8 or Roberts at 15 these days but yeah that good list though Jenkins and James can play 1 and 3.

you can't seperate 4 and 5 and 11 and 14, they are the same position really!

I can remember when NZ used to put Lomu into No8 for scrums near the try line for him to pick and go.

Ardie Savea can play 6,7,8,11,13,14,15

fa0019 wrote:Bergamasco?

  

Top class openside flanker. Very average winger. Dreadful scrum half!

What about Mirco though? Capped at 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 I think.

Josh Lewsey was capped at 10, 11, 13, 14 & 15. Jason Robinson at 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15.

O'Driscoll believes he is capped at 13 & 7 in the same match as he tries to do both jobs (still quite effectively)   

Eric Rush. Capped by the ABs at 7 & 11 I think. Then became the world's fastest hooker in 7s.

Sam wrote:

Nematode wrote:Hogg can cover 10, centre and FB. Any backs that cover forwards or vice-versa? Nonu in the past is my thought

I remember Radike Samo playing on the wing in the 2011 World Cup for the Aussies, normally a no.8/second row.

Samo also played flanker.

Being slightly more serious the most versatile NH back that I have seen in my lifetime is Austin Healy. Much hated for his mouth but that goes with the territory for someone who so often played SH - but he genuinely could play anywhere 9-15

Much like Shane Philpott except he didn't have a mouth. Not that he had anything to brag about so understandable.

I have always thought too many versatile players in a squad isn't necessarily a good thing.

One or two in the back line is great to cover injuries, but specialists are in my view more advantageous, just look at Frans Steyn, between 12 and 15, he has never settled. Pat Lambie between 10, 12 and 15 has never settled. Fortunately we don't have that many (at this point)

Certainly true that its very hard for a versatile player to go down as a great if they move position all the time, however talented they are (and yes AH is a good example)

Australia always seem to be the kings of the versatile backs. Their players often can easily slot in easily elsewhere in the backs. Great footballers in general.

I once read an article that suggested not only is Adam Jones one of the most destructive props in world rugby, but he can crochet a doily in under a minute.

Radike Samo the Reds and Wallabies second row has also played on the flank and 8.  But the best for him was playing wing.  I think against one of the minnows, most likely in the last RWC.

Isaac Boss has played 9,wing and emergency flanker for Leinster,I also saw an interview with Joe Schmidt after the NZ game in November where he said Boss hadn't got a run because Séan Cronin was carrying a knock and Boss was covering hooker if he had to go off.

 

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Isaac Boss has played 9,wing and emergency flanker for Leinster,I also saw an interview with Joe Schmidt after the NZ game in November where he said Boss hadn't got a run because Séan Cronin was carrying a knock and Boss was covering hooker if he had to go off.

   I remember him coming on at flanker in the Bath game at the Aviva. What a man.

Biltong wrote:I have always thought too many versatile players in a squad isn't necessarily a good thing.

One or two in the back line is great to cover injuries, but specialists are in my view more advantageous, just look at Frans Steyn, between 12 and 15, he has never settled. Pat Lambie between 10, 12 and 15 has never settled. Fortunately we don't have that many (at this point)

Agree completely biltong. The ABs are starting to show signs of this. Ben smith dropped completely out if contention for the world award with his switch to centre. Piataus a fullback or wing? Ongoing talk of DC at 12 etc.

SAs issue is not being versatile enough within the position itself...steyn and kirchner and perhaps jdv with his distribution but at least the three are consistent at what they do, and can be reliable to a greater extent than someone slotting in from elsewhere.
That's my concern with having so much depth...when they start putting players in anywhere just because they're too good to leave out.

Nearly forgot old Leon macdonald who started at 10, 12,13,15 and also subbed out to the wings regulary.

Piri Weepu also played 9,10 and 15 in the SAME World Cup. Some feat!

lostinwales wrote:Being slightly more serious the most versatile NH back that I have seen in my lifetime is Austin Healy. Much hated for his mouth but that goes with the territory for someone who so often played SH - but he genuinely could play anywhere 9-15

MIke Catt was arguably more versatile - he was capped for England at 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 - one fewer position, but Healey wasn't genuinely international quality at 12 or 13.

Doesn't Willem Alberts play 4-8? And though he's never been listed as anything other than a lock, I'm pretty sure I've seen Andries Bekker doing his own interpretation of a wing/center/scrummie

" Austin healey also played 9,10,12,13,14,15 to international level in most."

He did play internationally in each position though he never started in a centre spot and was really only cover. He was an awesome talent though and was an international quality 9,10, wing and fullback he didn't just cover there. Catt was very versatile but never really a wing or 13.

Logo Mulipola can play either side of the scrum but his preferred position is 8 (he only converted to prop when his agent talked him into it). Considering he's a 20 stone monster can you imagine him launching off the back of the scrum? Wouldn't want to be that scrum half!

fa0019 wrote:Bergamasco?

Sean Lamont.

formerly known as Sam wrote:" Austin healey also played 9,10,12,13,14,15 to international level in most."

He did play internationally in each position though he never started in a centre spot and was really only cover. He was an awesome talent though and was an international quality 9,10, wing and fullback he didn't just cover there. Catt was very versatile but never really a wing or 13....

I think the thing about Austin Healy is that you do get a fair few scrum halves that can play on the wing and some who can do 10. You also get 10's who can play at 15 or in the centers, and you can get centers who can also play wing or maybe even 15. Getting someone who can play across all of those positions is rare.

Not playing any more - But, Peter Richards played multiple positions for England and Wasps/Lon Irish.
Flank, 9, centre, wing etc.

Chris Wyles of Sarries seems to be pretty versatile.

Gavin Henson - half man half god

propdavid_london wrote:Not playing any more - But, Peter Richards played multiple positions for England and Wasps/Lon Irish.  
Flank, 9, centre, wing etc.

Chris Wyles of Sarries seems to be pretty versatile.

Good spot. Richards gets extra points for playing 30 min of the 2007 RWC final at 7 after both Moody and Worsley went off injured. And he did a better job of it than Worsley had!

gcBlues wrote:Gavin Henson - half man half god biscuit

Fixed that for you.

O'Driscoll has played 9, 10, 12, 13 and wing for Ireland and lined out 15 for the Lions in '01.

Gavin Henson 10, 12, 13 and 15.

propdavid_london wrote:Not playing any more - But, Peter Richards played multiple positions for England and Wasps/Lon Irish.  
Flank, 9, centre, wing etc.

Yep, he played openside for about 10 minutes of the World Cup final in 07 didn't he.