Outside Centre Tips

Comrade C

What skills are neccessary to develop for this position and any in game tips?

Tim Robbins

Comrade C wrote: »

What skills are neccessary to develop for this position and any in game tips?

What level are you at? What level are you hoping to get to?

LFC5Times

To quote Graham Henry " centre is a demanding position, the effectiveness of which relates to the alignment of the backline" he then goes on to say "Outside centre is a position which demands maturity because it's the hardest position to play in the entire backline. The best outside centres are hard runners, strong tacklers and decision makers.... tough individuals who thrive on the eyeball-to-eyeball situations that exist there. It's a position where players of weak character can be psyched out by hard-nosed individuals".

He then mentioned Joe Stanley & Frank Bunce who dominated the no. 13 jersey for the All Blacks from 1986 to 1997. He said when he mentioned the need for maturity, Joe operated there from the age of 29 to 35 and Frank from 30 to 36.

I suppose a good passer and vision would be two strong assets in the position also.

Hope the above helps you somehwhat.

twinytwo

Comrade C wrote: »

What skills are neccessary to develop for this position and any in game tips?

nearly everything.. a la drico..

pappyodaniel

twinytwo wrote: »

nearly everything.. a la drico..

+1, I'd go as far as to recommend a season playing somewhere in the backrow as centres do nearly as much ground work as a good 6/7/8.

[Jackass]

Outside centre is a very demanding position and requires an all round skill set.

Pace is vital, as nearing the end of the attacking line, gaps will open from back play..you need to be able to exploit these and get behind the defence and be able to deliver good offloads to support players (take out full back and release your winger for example).

Need to be physically strong, for when those gaps aren't there, you need to take the ball into contact and pump the legs to gain yards and to be able to stay up long enough for support to be there.

In defence, at low levels outside centres often make the mistake of tackling the inside shoulder..it's very catch 22 out that wide in defence as what option to take, but it's almost better to show more of the outside shoulder (imo, I've played it before, but never made a very high grade, so just my opinion! :P) so that you can push them out further wide and don't leave a gap in the heart of the defence...in simple terms, trust your inside centre to cover a man cutting in your direction and track the oppisite player, usually your oppisite centre, for the offload..always tackle the man when he has the ball regardless of if he is going to offload, this way you wont be dummied or side-stepped and you hae to trust your winger and full-back to cover the wider players..if you're indecisive you'll miss tackles / take wrong option.

Also need to work like a terrior at the breakdown, if your inside centre makes a tackle, or if the ball breaks down wider than you, you'll usually be the closest man and can burrow in for the ball ... but ask your coaches about that, as i need updating on the laws at the breakdown!!

It's a really fun position and is highly physical like a 7, but has the space to run and attack with the ball also.

Brian O'Driscoll is probably the best all round centre you will ever see..re-watch some Irish or Leinster games and keep an eye on him all the time, every aspect is superb.