valley commando
First XV
Is your hobby having a pop? You obviously never watched him in his prime.
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What's the real difference between #12 and #13?
- Thread starter Jaguares
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Is your hobby having a pop? You obviously never watched him in his prime.
The Jones Boy
First XV
Philippe Sella, Bruce Robertson, Tana Umaga, Jason Little, Jaques Fourie, Conrad Smith, Jamie Roberts, Craig Innes, Smokin Joe Stanley, Will greenwood, Bill Osborne, Frank Bunce, Timmy Horan, Japie Mulder, Ma'a Nonu, Jerry Guscott, some were 12's other 13's but if one was a great ball carrier the other would be a master at cover defence, often it was a case of opposites attract.
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I did say "in some cases", and although I accept that it is pretty rare these days, you did sometimes see Nonu popping up outside Conrad Smith.
I do recall seeing back in the late 1990's, Jeremy Guscott (who I regard to be among the best 12's I have ever seen) playing the most or all of game on the left (12) with Will Carling on the right (13). When the ball went left, Carling was second receiver, when it went to the right, it was Guscott
A number of the moves and tries (the first try is the first one) in this compilation show him playing on the left, outside of Carling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu7tnP2k1Aw
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Damn never realised Guscott was that fast.
What's the real difference between #12 and #13?
Doesnt it depend entirely on the game plan of the team, the skill sets available and even what move the backs are planning?
Doesnt it depend entirely on the game plan of the team, the skill sets available and even what move the backs are planning?
Pretty sure Guscott was an outside centre who refused to wear 13 for superstitious reasons.
That was Greenwood
I am very sure it applies to Guscott, who is described as an outside centre as just about everywhere.
Dunno, Greenwood I am sure, he wore 13 at the orange free state game on his first Lions tour and nearly died on the pitch.
Tmartin995
Academy Player
I'm pretty sure it was the other way around, he always wore 13 for superstitious reasons, but Scott Gibbs wore 13 that game and he wore 12. Greenwood said he was too star struck to ask Gibbs to swap
FTR - it was Guscott and Tindall who refused to wear the 13 shirt - Bath didn't have one at that time, having retired it after a couple of players died wearing 13 (IIRC).
Greenwood was very much an IC; who only really played OC when paired with Catt - though he'd wear 13 when paired with Tindall, he'd play IC whilst Tins played OC.
Guscott was an out-and-out OC, who wore 14 for Bath and 12 for England; whilst Carling, an IC who could turn his hand to OC wore 13 whilst playing 12.
None of the above had anything to do with playing left and right; but superstition taken from club to international level.
Greenwood was very much an IC; who only really played OC when paired with Catt - though he'd wear 13 when paired with Tindall, he'd play IC whilst Tins played OC.
Guscott was an out-and-out OC, who wore 14 for Bath and 12 for England; whilst Carling, an IC who could turn his hand to OC wore 13 whilst playing 12.
None of the above had anything to do with playing left and right; but superstition taken from club to international level.
Silly other nations. We South Africans know that 12 is the really big guy, and 13 is the slightly smaller but still big guy. Passing is a last resort and the cowards way out.
The exact skillset you chose to use at either position depends on your team. You can always bosh with a 13 or use a 12 that passes more etc. Depends on the individual player or team preference. As a player though I think you get more comfortable at one or the other. Teams don't seem to switch between the two all that often.
