Lions Greatest XV: centres
Nick Cain, chief correspondent of The Rugby Paper, says: “Centres tend to come in all shapes and sizes and traditionally the inside-centre (No.12) is a link-man or carrier responsible for straightening the line.
“His role is to provide sharp, crisp passing despite the heavy midfield traffic, and to kick well enough to find space and turn defenders in attack – or clear effectively in defence. Some teams also use the inside centre as a battering ram to get the ball over the gain-line in order to recycle and get on the front foot as fast as possible, while in defence he must be a rock.
“The outside-centre (No.13) is one of the fastest players on the pitch and arguably the most potent attacking weapon because he makes the slicing cuts through the first and second lines of defence that result in tries for the wings, full-back, anyone else who can get up in support, or themselves.
“The No.13 must have burning acceleration and top speed, an array of passing and kicking skills, and have the rugby nous to know when to go, and to strike where the opposition is most vulnerable.
“The truly outstanding Lions centres have worked in pairs. Mike Gibson (12) and John Dawes (13) provided the 1971 Lions with a peerless footballing combination which outplayed the All Blacks midfield, and made the most of the finishing skills of wingers Gerald Davies and David Duckham during that landmark tour. Dick Milliken (12) and Ian McGeechan (13) carried on where they left off on the 1974 tour to South Africa, helping JJ Williams to put the Springboks to the sword.
“The pairings on the 1977, 1980 and 1983 tours never clicked in the same way although they were hints of the individual talents of centres like Dai Richards and Jim Renwick. However, the 1989 tour of Australia saw the arrival of Jeremy Guscott, and it was his hunting down of his own grubber late in the Second Test that proved to be the turning point in the victory over the Wallabies.
“Guscott showed his versatility by kicking the winning drop-goal in the decisive Second Test against the Springboks in 1997. And the gliding England outside-centre was also instrumental in launching the breakout for Rory Underwood’s try in the record Second Test victory over New Zealand in 1993, and although The Lions were well beaten in the Third Test decider the consolation was that the last two Tests of the series saw the beginnings of one of the great Lions partnerships, with Scott Gibbs selected inside him. That partnership was central to the success of the1997 tour when The Lions emerged triumphant with Guscott and the stocky, indomitable Welshman in tandem against the Springboks. Although the 2001 Tourists were unable to match that feat in Australia, the Tour saw the emergence of another world class outside-centre in Brian O’Driscoll, with a brilliant try in the First Test victory.
“After the trough of New Zealand 2005, with O’Driscoll’s Tour as captain ended by a spear-tackle in the opening minutes of the First Test, The Lions re-emerged as a force in 2009, with the big Welshman Jamie Roberts combining superbly with the Irishman to take the Springboks to the wire.”
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