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Nigel Davies has recently announced his Welsh team to take on the newly crowned Rugby World Champions South Africa. Davies, had a perfect opportunity to name a complete side, one that would give incoming coach Warren Gatland some food for thought. He chose not too.
Instead, Davies has handed down a team which includes Tom Shanklin out of position in the 11 shirt. Tom James from the Cardiff Blues surely would have, for the good of Wales' future been a better selection. Tom Shanklin is a fine centre, is he going to trouble Brian Habana for pace? Unlikely. What is more likely is that he is going to be slightly out of position and provide scoring opportunities for the South African. When will coaches and selectors learn? There are very few players who can move positions in the Test arena and perform well, let alone put in world class performances. What message does a selection such as the one above send out to all the players in the affected position? Wales has 4 regions who have at least 4 wings on their books, professional players you all may be but sorry we feel that a centre is better equipped for the position in the National team.... Give me a break. France tried many players in the lead up to the the RWC in the number 10 position, then played a centre at fullback during the world cup with little or no success. These moves are not at all successful, I watch a fair bit of rugby and cannot remember the last time I saw a truly world class performance from a player picked out of position. Maybe Matt Giteau normally a centre being used as a scrum half ironically enough against Wales a couple of seasons back came close. It is difficult when you have two world class players in the same position, tough decisions have to be made. Australia tried to play George Smith and Phil Waugh in the same team, both world class players, the naming of them in the same team was met with only limited success. Selections such as those do not happen as the norm in other sports, so why then does it happen in rugby? Selectors, name centres on wings, wings at fullback. Outside halves in the centre. It does not work, players who are trained for certain positions will rarely do well in others. When was the last time Stephen Harmison opened the batting for England and I can't remember the last time Thierry Henry played left back for either Arsenal or Barcelona. Usually these "out of position" selections are defensively minded. What does odopting such a mindset say to the players to begin with? Do these selections put doubt in the mind of the players around them? Most likely. That cannot be for the good of any team. |
