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2024 Guinness Six Nations
2014 6 Nations: France vs Ireland (Round 5)
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<blockquote data-quote="Peat" data-source="post: 630944" data-attributes="member: 42330"><p>I don't like encouraging the idea of playing Payne anywhere but 15, but I can't in all honesty agree with the idea that Payne isn't a 13 as well. Season before he came over to Ulster, he was mainly playing 13, and there was genuine worry that the All Blacks were going to cap him and ruin his project player status. Some of their papers were talking him up as a possible cap. We haven't played him there much, because he's by far out best 15, we have plenty of centres, and Payne is probably best at 15... but I'd be pretty confident he could do a job at outside centre.</p><p></p><p>Cold light of day, BOD's most valuable traits over the last year or so have been his experience, his desire and his leadership. In terms of play, I don't think any of the guys being proposed as replacements are going to drop below his recent average performances and think some could improve it. Ireland have sufficient attacking options in the back three to counter-balance his departure even if I am wrong. The possible return of O'Brien and Ferris, the continued improvement and maturing of Henderson, and the possibility of Copeland coming into the mix offers the Ireland pack some huge carrying weapons to ease the pressure on the backline as well.</p><p></p><p>They'll be fine. Unfortunately.</p><p></p><p>To me the most interesting question is 12. Do they keep D'Arcy to help bed in the new man, or do they turn to youth and start building a new partnership now? My money is on the former, but it seems a difficult call.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Peat, post: 630944, member: 42330"] I don't like encouraging the idea of playing Payne anywhere but 15, but I can't in all honesty agree with the idea that Payne isn't a 13 as well. Season before he came over to Ulster, he was mainly playing 13, and there was genuine worry that the All Blacks were going to cap him and ruin his project player status. Some of their papers were talking him up as a possible cap. We haven't played him there much, because he's by far out best 15, we have plenty of centres, and Payne is probably best at 15... but I'd be pretty confident he could do a job at outside centre. Cold light of day, BOD's most valuable traits over the last year or so have been his experience, his desire and his leadership. In terms of play, I don't think any of the guys being proposed as replacements are going to drop below his recent average performances and think some could improve it. Ireland have sufficient attacking options in the back three to counter-balance his departure even if I am wrong. The possible return of O'Brien and Ferris, the continued improvement and maturing of Henderson, and the possibility of Copeland coming into the mix offers the Ireland pack some huge carrying weapons to ease the pressure on the backline as well. They'll be fine. Unfortunately. To me the most interesting question is 12. Do they keep D'Arcy to help bed in the new man, or do they turn to youth and start building a new partnership now? My money is on the former, but it seems a difficult call. [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
2014 6 Nations: France vs Ireland (Round 5)
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