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Forwards in the backline - Munster's short lived 2005 experiment
By Ian Cameron
Mathieu Bastareaud's decision to move from centre to Number 8 when he plays for his new club Lyon rather unsurprisingly drew headlines this week.
For years the running joke was that the former Toulon midfielder is built like a prop - the sheer mass of the man screams forward - and there's an understandable excitement at the prospect of a top tier international making the switch.
For many rugby fans however, a bright line between forwards and backs remains.
While the physiological difference between rugby's two most basic positions continues to narrow, there's a quasi-religious separation of backs and forwards deeply rooted within the culture of the sport, as if the two sub-sets were two entirely different species of rugby player that shouldn't be confused or intermingled.
This sacred gap has been bridged recently with alarming regularity. Fiji's Semi Kunatani and Levani Botia both moved from wing and centre (respectively) to the backrow, and are prospering there.
There have been cases of failure of course. Infamously Italian openside Mauro Bergamasco attempted to play scrumhalf in a 2009 Six Nations match against England, a doomed experiment that will be remembered - sadly - for his laughable incompetence in the position.
More recently Sam Burgess, who was already tasked with handling the considerable challenge of a league to union conversion, was effectively forced to move position by Stuart Lancaster from Bath's blindside - where he was having some considerable success - to the England midfield - at the Rugby World Cup. It was a move that would ultimately see the 6'5, 116kg Burgess break-off his Bath contract a year early and return to the NRL.
Richie Vernon won 24-caps for Scotland in the backrow before converting to the centre in his latter years at Glasgow Warriors before retiring at the end of last season at London Scottish.
Going the opposite direction, England hooker Tom Youngs made the switch to hooker from the centre relatively early in his career thanks to advice from Heyneke Meyer. It was a good call too. He went on to win 28 England caps and three British and Lions caps in the position.
Yet it was some 14-years-ago that then Munster coach Declan Kidney flirted heavily with selecting Irish forwards in the backline - albeit with an injury crisis forcing his hand.
Kidney selected Irish David Wallace and Denis Leamy in the backs in two separate and consecutive games.
Wallace, one of the most explosive athletes to be produced by the Irish system, started on the wing against Border Reivers at Thomond Park in the opening game of the season in 2005.
“I’m very much looking forward to the challenge," the then 29-year-old Wallace remarked. "I’ve played (on the wing) a few times, although I’ve never actually started a game in the position.”
Kidney reflected after the game that: "David was asked to play there (wing) for the good of the squad. And we must recognise his selfless attitude. I was very happy with the way he played in what was an unfamiliar position. But he is a very, very good wing-forward and it's only fair that he gets time in that position.
And so it was a week later that Kidney returned Wallace to the pack, and started the 6'2, 108kg Denis Leamy at 12 for a Musgrave Park clash with the Ospreys.
Leamy, who would ultimately win 57 caps with Ireland in the backrow, was more than happy to start at 12. "I'd play anywhere for Munster. I have played in the backs at underage so I m familiar enough with it, and I've been training there all week so I m happy to give it a go. Looking forward to it really."
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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