Forwards playing in the Backline.

[The_Wol]

With recent injuries at the Queensland Reds Ewan MacKenzie is currently assessing the possibility of playing Scott Higginbotham as an outside center as a replacement for the injured Anthony Faingaa, this would be a bold move but wouldn't be completly out of the question.
So I was wondering what your view is on forwards playing as starting backs.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I reckon this isn't a bad option as it sounds, also having a.faingaa out could be a blessing in disguise for the reds. I haven't rated him at all this year.

The only question would be who would cover 6? higginbotham has been on fire this year, would be surprised if deans overlooked him for the 3N.

 

[superprop]

I think it could work I mean most backrowers could play centre. In fact I'd love to see SO'B as a centre.

 

[Seaton]

As long as they have the pace and passing abilities, as The Magicman says, most back-rowers should be able to comfortably fill the role of the centres and wings.

Obviously for defensive and offensive structure over the course of the season such things should not be practiced hap-hazardly

 

[Peat]

Sounds good until the first time you put them one on one with a quick-stepping centre with room to manouvere. Then they frequently look like prats. See also: coming out of the line too fast, bunching onto man, etc.etc.

Defensively, its such a different game out there, and increasingly a specialised one too. When you see a forward in the opposition backline, you target the ******* mercilessly, because they will almost definitley crack. People with the strength and power to play forwards but with the nous, speed and defensive ability of a back end up in the backs.

 

[iWin]

Only concerns really would be hands and possibly pace and you could work on both to make the switch easy.

 

[lucky number 7]

Unless he has played out at 2nd centre at a very high level before he will probably get sausaged on defense
However on attack its always nice to have a battering ram to slot in.. they would probably slot a winger into 2nd centre on defensive set pieces ad allow Higginbottom to move to the wing ?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Denis Leamy has played centre for Munster before if I remember correctly. Not great, but not a liability in defence. Who knows, could work very nicely.

 

[Draggs]

Andy Powell...

 

[lynam1104]

He has the pace IMO, but as other said his defense will be tested.

 

[Draggs]

He already spend most of him time in the backline.
Starts out and standoff and shifts to inside then outside centre in one swift movement.
Who needs inside backs when you have Andy?

 

[TNT88]

It will be a cool experiment. No doubt the Force will test him out in defence as well. (not head on obviously)

 

[Easdon]

Well the fact that he can play either side flanker or no.8 suggests that he'll come off well in the backs. he's definitely shown the physical presence required for 6 this season an has made some excellent tackles yet he's still got the pace and mobility around the park to play at 7. obviously this is a different level of speed than what is required from a centre but i think defensively he'll cope well and if he gets the chance he's definitely gonna make a couple line breaks.

 

[lynam1104]

Watch from about 1:18


I think hes fast enough.

 

[The_Wol]

Well the fact that he can play either side flanker or no.8 suggests that he'll come off well in the backs. he's definitely shown the physical presence required for 6 this season an has made some excellent tackles yet he's still got the pace and mobility around the park to play at 7. obviously this is a different level of speed than what is required from a centre but i think defensively he'll cope well and if he gets the chance he's definitely gonna make a couple line breaks.

I'd say he has more pace than most Centers as he demonstrated against the bulls last year over about 70 meters.

 

[Darwin]

Personally I can't see MacKenzie moving Higginbotham to centre. If they were in a desperate position and needed to do something creative to have a chance of victory it could be an option, but this is clearly not the case. I'd expect Will Chambers will start at 13, with Rod Davies and Dom Shipperley playing on the wings (with Morahan shifting to fullback).

There is no reason why Higginbotham would not make a good centre, but as other point out, it is very different defensively playing in backs than in the forwards.

 

[The_Wol]

Rod Davies has one leg right now....

 

[Darwin]

Rod Davies has one leg right now....

It will be interesting to watch a one legged man play then, as it sounds like he will be fit to play this week
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...g-out-of-numbers/story-e6frepm6-1226069696524

 

[The_Wol]

I'll have a talk to him tonight about it :O I thought he was out for another two weeks.