rumncoke wrote:Shan don't see it that way
Dk is not the sort to go on tour with only one 12 and five 13s -- BoD Earls Mcfadden Cave and Trimble (granted its some time since Trimble played 13 for Ireland but he has done so) and 4 wings Trimble Earls Zebo and Mcfadden.
My take is he wanted to play BoD at 12 ( D'Arcy having shown in the previous 6Ns he is starting to lose pace) and Earls at 13 .
The 6Ns and the first test confirmed that Earls defence at 13 leaves much to be desired in fact he is a defensive liability because he lacks disipline and BoD like D'Arcy is losing pace to cover the mistakes and gaps left by Earls. At 13 BoD can act as the defensive general and maintain a disiplined drift defence he couldn't do it at 12. Cave is strictly a 13 and provided Earls and BoD were injury free-- was never going to feature on the team on this tour.
Thus I believe the options at 12 as they went on the plane were seen as D'Arcy and BoD ,BoD being 1 choice .
McFadden is not considered a centre by DK and really hasn't played wing sufficently to be considered an International
If only Trimble LOOKEDmore secure in defence, I honestly don't believe Mcfaddens is any better playing on the wing but it looks it. because on his game in attack Trimble is without doubt one of the most intelligent backs in Ireland.
You are saying exactly what I am saying but in a slightly different way. DK showed in the first test he considered BOD at 12...then realised it didn't work, turned to his only actual 12 on tour who would have played again this week but for injury....learnt the valuable lesson about playing a 12 and turned to Wallace. This is what I am saying. This is what you are saying except for the learning the lesson bit.