10 or 12

[Longy98]

I was just wondering if anyone could help me decide which of these I'm better suited to moving forward. It's really ******* me off and at my old club I was moved between 10/12 and 15 and by the end I wasn't being picked regularly. I've joined a new team though and my first training session is next week.

Few stats: I'm 18, 5'8/9 and 83 kg.

Main strengths: passing, organising, footwork, defence.

When I play at 10 I feel as though I'm a bit unnatural at it, there's a lot of pressure and you're always in the game. You're responsible for not only for yourself but the guys around you as well and I don't feel confident enough to do that. When I play 12 I can use my running game a bit more but I'm coming up against players a lot bigger than me, all the top centres are huge. I feel more comfortable at 12 but I don't want my size to stop me from achieving what I want to achieve.

I want to nail down one position for my new club so any advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

You seem a bit small for 12 bit as long as your defence s good there's no reason you shouldn't be able to stay there. 10 is one of those positions that suits you or it doesn't. You can't force it. If it does t feel natural, don't play there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, I think go for 12.
As above, as long as your tackle technique/defence is decent your size shouldn't be too much of an issue.
You're taller than Kyle Eastmond, and he's made a decent go of it in the centres

 

[Zed]

I was just wondering if anyone could help me decide which of these I'm better suited to moving forward. It's really ******* me off and at my old club I was moved between 10/12 and 15 and by the end I wasn't being picked regularly. I've joined a new team though and my first training session is next week.

Few stats: I'm 18, 5'8/9 and 83 kg.

Main strengths: passing, organising, footwork, defence.

When I play at 10 I feel as though I'm a bit unnatural at it, there's a lot of pressure and you're always in the game. You're responsible for not only for yourself but the guys around you as well and I don't feel confident enough to do that. When I play 12 I can use my running game a bit more but I'm coming up against players a lot bigger than me, all the top centres are huge. I feel more comfortable at 12 but I don't want my size to stop me from achieving what I want to achieve.

I want to nail down one position for my new club so any advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

Some of the best centres I've played with and against have been your height or smaller. Big, quick guys are hard to pull down, but invariably are predictable and lack the acceleration and nimble feet of smaller guys like Matt Giteau. They can be a nightmare to defend against. At least with a big guy, you pretty much know where he's going to run. So your size isn't important, it only means you can't really be used a crash ball centre, unless you;re particularly powerful. 10 is a position that can take a few years to get good at and comfortable in and it really depends on the team too. I mostly played 12, but played 10 for two seasons in a successful team, I got to thinking I was a pretty good 10, until we got promoted and were playing teams much better, suddenly playing 10 with a pack that was getting smashed all over the park, became a lot harder! And that's when you learn what it takes to make a good 10, getting slow ball, on a wet windy day when you're under the pump and still being able to do something with it.. we almost got relegated that season and I was swiftly moved back to 12! So yeah it takes time to become a good 10 and it also does depend on the level. If it's a pretty average standard you can get away with sticking a fullback or centre in at 10, but obviously the higher up you go the harder it becomes and the more experience you need at 10.

 

[Peat]

Being able to play only one position? Luxury.

If you're happier at 12, back yourself to make it there. Being small is a barrier, but it is not insurmountable.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Being able to play only one position? Luxury.

If you're happier at 12, back yourself to make it there. Being small is a barrier, but it is not insurmountable.

He obviously plays for a proper team. I've got a 7 hooking and an 8 at 12 this week

 

[ncurd]

He obviously plays for a proper team. I've got a 7 hooking and an 8 at 12 this week

Is Stuart Lancaster your coach?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I've got a 7 hooking and an 8 at 12 this week

Tut, non specialist front row. Are you going to wait til you're behind to call for uncontested scrums or just do it from outset?

As for the OP. It sounds like you've made a decision and are seeking to validate it. But if you truly don't know yourself, then none of us can really help. You've just got to work it out for yourself, give each position a crack and then decide and then nail it down - you're 18, you have loads of time. Partly depends on your aspirations - do you want to play at the highest level possible etc. Also it's not always the case that the position you are "best" at is the one you most enjoy.

 

[Peat]

He obviously plays for a proper team. I've got a 7 hooking and an 8 at 12 this week

Only 5 back rows?

I regularly play in sides where you've got 7 or 8 players who'd describe their position to a new club as "back row".

And all of us would be wise enough now to never ever admit we could play anywhere else. Too late for us now!

 

[Every Time Ref]

Only 5 back rows?

I regularly play in sides where you've got 7 or 8 players who'd describe their position to a new club as "back row".

And all of us would be wise enough now to never ever admit we could play anywhere else. Too late for us now!

I'm only referring to people I consider a back row as captain and selector, not what the deluded fools call themselves! It's a truth universally acknowledged that all forwards are flankers and all backs are centres

We once had a hooker (and I'm talking proper front row type, not one of these modern auxiliary flankers) turn up having met no one and, realising he had a blank slate, claim to be a centre! He got 2 disastrous games in a pretty desperate 2nd team before he admitted the truth (which most of us had already guessed)

Old Hooker - to be fair, the guy is an experienced hooker, he's just not a regular one or particularly strong there - he's much better as a 7. He's safe though, you can rest assured I'm not being irresponsible here, cross my heart.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'm only referring to people I consider a back row as captain and selector, not what the deluded fools call themselves! It's a truth universally acknowledged that all forwards are flankers and all backs are centres.

Plenty of backs say they're 9's too but can't pass off their bad hand or box kick... I don't know why they do it, 9 is the most boring position on the pitch.

OP, play 10, it'll make you sexier!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Old Hooker - to be fair, the guy is an experienced hooker, he's just not a regular one or particularly strong there - he's much better as a 7. He's safe though, you can rest assured I'm not being irresponsible here, cross my heart.

Never even crossed my mind, ETR! Just reminded me of the time I played in a 3rd team game against an amateur / social side of a top flight team that may now be based in Coventry. To a man their pack sounded like McCaw and were built like Billy's younger brothers. Yet none of the big girls' blouses could possibly scrummage......at that level, really? Uncontested against a team of monsters. From that day on I've been convinced that the downgrading of the scrum has been 100% Southern Hemisphere conspiracy.

 

[FNS]

well, you also said 15 its a great place to be. You get to attack and defend, you have to think and organice with 11 and 14 but not amount 10 needs to. Need good awaereness and decent speed though.

 

[Longy98]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Sorry for the double question in advance. First training session at the new team tomorrow, they view me as a 10 and I'm really nervous. It's an open age first team and I'm really feeling it. I've had anxiety for the best part of my life so walking into a dressing room full of new players, knowing that I've got a point to prove is pretty petrifying for me. I know I'll be fine when I'm on the pitch but it's been on my mind for a few days.