BOD at 12.

dtpc191991 · 12-09-2011 10:10am #1

O'driscoll has lost some of the pace he formerly had, but he can still break through the gain line and has brilliant off loading skills, the two requirements needed to be a successful 12 in the modern game. I'm thinking that the way to fix are penetration problem is to move BOD to 12 and have McFadden at 13 on his shoulder, as McFadden as buckets of pace once across the gain line and he could really take us forward if he takes offloads in space from O'Driscoll. Any thoughts?

yimrsg · 12-09-2011 10:41am

You've indirectly said there that McFadden should be tried at 12 since he's got pace and relishes the contact. Since BOD hasn't got the pace of old but still is our best defender at reading the game I'd be very reluctant to move him simply because of how dependable he is. Trying out new player combinations at the WC is insane IMO, it should have happened months ago.

I've not seen enough of McFadden to say what his hands are like at getting the ball out of contact or how good a passer he is. I do recall against Italy when he came on as a bloodsub he was like a tyro and did a very good Rougerie impression.

dtpc191991 · 12-09-2011 10:43am

yimrsg wrote: »

You've indirectly said there that McFadden should be tried at 12 since he's got pace and relishes the contact. Since BOD hasn't got the pace of old but still is our best defender at reading the game I'd be very reluctant to move him simply because of how dependable he is. Trying out new player combinations at the WC is insane IMO, it should have happened months ago.

I've not seen enough of McFadden to say what his hands are like at getting the ball out of contact or how good a passer he is. I do recall against Italy when he came on as a bloodsub he was like a tyro and did a very good Rougerie impression.

Either would be a better option than D'Arcy at the moment.

bamboozle · 12-09-2011 10:44am

BOD cant be moved from 12, he's the best defender of the hardest channel to defend. Plus his passing is not good enough for 12.

BOD at 13 and McFadden at 12 for me.

irishbucsfan · 12-09-2011 10:53am

D'Arcy and BOD will start.

sedantez · 12-09-2011 11:00am

Agree, I think Darcy will be given one last shot against Australia. If he has a below par performance again surely Kidney will have to look else where.

PhatPiggins · 12-09-2011 11:03am

D'Arcy is on his sixteenth last shot at this stage. I do think he's being scapegoated somewhat for an entire backline that is playing badly.

CatFromHue · 12-09-2011 11:05am

SOB is next in line for his go at the 12 jersey :pac:.

Seriously though I don't think moving BOD to 12 is a good idea. It would still leave us with a problem at 13.

Mcfadden and Earls are far from what BOD brings to the 13 jersey.

vkid · 12-09-2011 11:11am

PhatPiggins wrote: »

D'Arcy is on his sixteenth last shot at this stage. I do think he's being scapegoated somewhat for an entire backline that is playing badly.

Said it here during the 6n that he was playing crap and got totally shot down and imo he hasnt improved at all. . But i reckon he will still be played.

BOD doesnt look 100% at all imo.

handsomecake · 12-09-2011 12:15pm

it worked for umaga,who went from 14,13,12 as he got older

chippers · 12-09-2011 12:53pm

Why oh why isnt tommy bowe playing in midfield.......we have good cover tor his place on the wing. He would give us that injection of pace and hard running line that we are really missing in midfield.

CatFromHue · 12-09-2011 1:32pm

How many times has bowe played in the centre?

Regarding Umaga there were viable alternatives to the 14 and 13 positions when he moved.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 12-09-2011 1:39pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

How many times has bowe played in the centre?

A lot and not well (for ospreys)

I'd play McFadden at 12 and BOD at 13 but have them swap positions when attacking.

Clearlier · 12-09-2011 1:57pm

Bowe's a lot more dangerous roaming around behind the midfield that he would be in it.

There's no reason why BOD couldn't attack from 12 and defend from 13.

The root of the problems of the Irish backline are at scrumhalf, for counter-attacks we're simply not getting enough players back quickly enough.

Overall it does seem like we could use a little less control and a little more raw agression.

andrewdcs · 12-09-2011 2:34pm

PADDY WALLACE!

.ak · 12-09-2011 4:48pm

13 BOD
12 McFadden

...but more importantly, that should be the starting centers for ITALY, not Aus, as we can't win the Aus game, and so the Italy game is now our WC final... Darce to start at 12 for Aus, and maybe wake Kidney up...

vinny chase · 12-09-2011 5:32pm

I think O'Driscoll's role as the defensive organiser from the thirteen role is vital to the way Ireland & Leinster defend. I'd give Fergus a lash at twelve, and see how he does.

scriba · 12-09-2011 6:42pm

Brian O'Driscoll at 12 is a nice idea initially, but as many on this thread have pointed out, Ireland's defensive organisation depends on him being at 13. I'm also not sure he could sustain playing an impact game at 12 in an attacking sense these days.

I'd love to see McFadden get a run at 12 also, or even Paddy Wallace. Otherwise what's the point of bringing centres that you won't play? D'Arcy cannot play on Saturday, surely...

It was interesting watching Wales make hard yards through the midfield against the Boks the other morning. No dancing feet on display there (except Williams, who got gobbled up every time). I know Roberts and Davies are big men (as is North), but they also ran good lines at pace from deep, something we rarely do effectively.

dtpc191991 · 13-09-2011 3:53pm

scriba wrote: »

Brian O'Driscoll at 12 is a nice idea initially, but as many on this thread have pointed out, Ireland's defensive organisation depends on him being at 13. I'm also not sure he could sustain playing an impact game at 12 in an attacking sense these days.

I'd love to see McFadden get a run at 12 also, or even Paddy Wallace. Otherwise what's the point of bringing centres that you won't play? D'Arcy cannot play on Saturday, surely...

It was interesting watching Wales make hard yards through the midfield against the Boks the other morning. No dancing feet on display there (except Williams, who got gobbled up every time). I know Roberts and Davies are big men (as is North), but they also ran good lines at pace from deep, something we rarely do effectively.

He could attack at 12 and defend at 13, I agree his defence at 13 is Trojan most of the time. Our failure to run lines from deep mystifies me, we have the ability to do it Leinster has proved that time in time out. I think they need to follow their instincts more and ignore what Gaffney is telling them.

Cpt_Blackbeard · 13-09-2011 8:10pm

There is no reason that BOD can't attack from 12 and defend at 13 - Its been what Mafi and Barnes have been doing for Munster this season. But, if he was ever going to be played 12, it would have happened already.

dooneenboy · 13-09-2011 8:18pm

scriba wrote: »

Brian O'Driscoll at 12 is a nice idea initially, but as many on this thread have pointed out, Ireland's defensive organisation depends on him being at 13. I'm also not sure he could sustain playing an impact game at 12 in an attacking sense these days.

I'd love to see McFadden get a run at 12 also, or even Paddy Wallace. Otherwise what's the point of bringing centres that you won't play? D'Arcy cannot play on Saturday, surely...

It was interesting watching Wales make hard yards through the midfield against the Boks the other morning. No dancing feet on display there (except Williams, who got gobbled up every time). I know Roberts and Davies are big men (as is North), but they also ran good lines at pace from deep, something we rarely do effectively.

I agree with the wales comments! I think have a go at a running/crash ball game, go sexton at 12, bod at 13, trimble and Bowe to swap in to 13 for crash ball, they're animals who can shift in broken play.

BOD at 12.

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