Center Play - what really is required

When I raised this topic previously and mentioned the fact that our backline in 2012 was dead - I mention that it is the function of inside centers and flyhalfs to play a style of rugby that creates space for outside players to perform well. I specifically mentioned that crashballing is the death of backline attacking play and that Francois Steyn does not bring anything positive to that position - since his standard play is crashballing. Saffex went ballistic on that issue and quoted a long article on the issue in which he stated that inside centers have no alternative to do as a result of the defensive patterns and that Steyn is excellent in that regard. During the present Super 15 series - Nonu was crashballing all the time and I said he was destroying the backline of the Highlanders as a result. Matter of fat was that in his absence the Highlanders had a brilliant game against the Blues - when they were without the crashballing Nonu at center After Saturday and the backline performance of the Springboks and both the French and the All Blacks - I think the topic is to be raised again. Is the prime role of the inside center to crashball? Nonu did not do that on Saturday and he was a much better center than he was in Super 15 - and crashballing by the Springboks were virtually eliminated by them on Saturday. The question remains - can the Springboks get away permanently from the crashballing disease and go past the Francois Steyn era and adopt an approach towards much freer and attack-minded approach to center play? In other words - are we going to keep Francois Steyn away from the key no 12 position or will he be brought back into that position in future with an emphasis back on craashballing? Comments - please.

There’s a time and a place for everything.

 

The situation at that moment needs an intelligent decision.

 

SBW is an outstanding 12. Especially his offload in contact putting his outside man into the gap. Fruean probably had his best season with SBW on his inside.  We haven’t seen that kind of form from Fruean since SBW left.

 

He used his head when he needed to and his muscle and pace when he needed it.

 

No rigid structure.

 

He kept his opposition guessing.

 

Unpredictable, intelligent play … combined with … power and pace ... all when it was needed.