Cardiff Tig wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:28 am
But that's not true. Manu has shown on lots of occasions that he can play 12. He had a great game at 12 against Ireland. He played 12 on the 2013 Lions tour before an injury.
It is not a case of whether you think it to be true it is an opinion...probably the same opinion of many seeing how little 12 he has played at all throughout his career compared to other centres who can easily shift to both
The fact you can only choose one game against Ireland (also France) and the fact he played a couple of times there on Lions provincial tour games speaks volumes
That's because Leicester has always had 10s and 12s that suit Manu being at 13.
Rugby is not that complicated a game. Power centres like Manu, Nonu, Basteraud can all play 12 and 13 pretty much as and when (which is exactly what happens at Toulon) it all depends on the game plan and who is at 10 and 13. Similarly, the vast amount of 10s can play 12 - Wilkinson, Catt, Mauger, Flood, Farrell - although defence is normally the issue here stopping them.
Manu at 12 is perfectly legitimate. Manu at 12 and not giving him the ball is completely pointless!
I have to say I completely disagree...Manu and Basteraud do not play 12 often as they do not have the hands to be able to distribute, Nonu does though. Having a 13 like Slade is a lot rarer as he can do it all but I would have liked to see Slade 12 Manu 13 as I think that could work better. Whilst he can do many of the key jobs of a 12 he will only ever be a limited 12 like Jamie Roberts for example which affects the backline and distribution outside of their channel.
It seems like we will have to agree to disagree on the Manu at 12 now, I think he can learn to become a better 12 but whether Tigers will ever play him there remains to be seen, that and he prefers 13 much more himself.
I agree with you entirely about the distribution. But that's my point - Manu's game doesn't change at 12 or 13, but the players at 10 and 13 must suit the game plan. Manu isn't picked at 12 to be a distributor, he's picked to make more space for Slade outside him.
"Jonny May failed a head injury assessment late in England’s defeat by Wales after being allowed to continue playing for more than three minutes, during which time he made a tackle when not fit to be on the field.
The England wing, 28, suffered a blow to the head when he and Manu Tuilagi tackled Hadleigh Parkes after 64 minutes and 10 seconds, as Wales launched the 35-phase attack that culminated in a try from Cory Hill.
May stayed on the floor for two phases, his arms and legs flailing, but he did not receive any treatment before getting back to his feet and unsteadily rejoining England’s defensive line. Wales focused their attack on the opposite side of the field but May was called back into action after 67min 20sec to make a tackle on George North. From the next phase, Hill hit a line off Dan Biggar to score the try that put Wales ahead.
May still looked groggy after the game and he will now have to pass the standard return-to-play protocols, which take a minimum of six days, before he is cleared to play again. England’s next game, against Italy, is not until March 9.
The referee has the power to remove a player if he is concerned about a head injury but the officials are not compelled to stop play for an injury."
Happy days clearing straw from the pitch before the Baa-Baas games! KBO
Wear a Mask>Protect The NHS>Save Lives
We got greedy! It worked with a centre at FB alongside a defensively green Stockdale and a winger at FB and two centres on the wing,to think it would work against bona fide back 3 players was naive at best and to not be able to change it when it wasnt working was criminal!
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
Would love to see Robson, Ford, May, Tuilagi, Daly, Nowell, Brown against Italy. Let’s get Daly playing 13 which is his best position and let him run riot.
Leicestertinytiger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:08 pm
Would love to see Robson, Ford, May, Tuilagi, Daly, Nowell, Brown against Italy. Let’s get Daly playing 13 which is his best position and let him run riot.
Leicestertinytiger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:08 pm
Would love to see Robson, Ford, May, Tuilagi, Daly, Nowell, Brown against Italy. Let’s get Daly playing 13 which is his best position and let him run riot.
Why Brown? we are moving forward, not back
If Daly plays 13 who else plays fullback?
Judging from the retained players however, seems it will be the same 23 against Italy as it was against Wales. Maybe Te’o makes the bench.
Leicestertinytiger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:08 pm
Would love to see Robson, Ford, May, Tuilagi, Daly, Nowell, Brown against Italy. Let’s get Daly playing 13 which is his best position and let him run riot.
Why Brown? we are moving forward, not back
If Daly plays 13 who else plays fullback?
Judging from the retained players however, seems it will be the same 23 against Italy as it was against Wales. Maybe Te’o makes the bench.
I mean Woodward but he’s not been on EJ’s books for a while.
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
Can’t see Eddie making wholesale changes even though he should, to give people game time. I think the only changes will be Ewels onto the bench, Ford comes in for Tuilagi and Farrell moves to 12, May rested and Ashton onto the bench and Cokanasiga to start. How ever what I’d like to see is:
Moon
George
Cole
Launchbury
Kruis
Shields (final chance to show he’s got what it takes, before he’s replaced by Underhill for the World Cup squad)
Curry
Wilson
Robson
Ford
Cokanasiga
Tuilagi
Slade
Nowell
Brown (only cause Goode isn’t in the squad)
Genge
Cowan-Dickie
Sinkler
Ewels
Hughes (same as shields, only with Wilson becoming 2nd choice 8)
Youngs (shouldn’t be dropped completely due to 1 game)
Farrell
Joesph