Here are the views of Carl Ablett, a modern player who you might think would be more of an authority on this than nantwitch or Bywater. Guess what, he concurs with me.

"It's probably the way the game is going, people need to slot in all over. It's definitely beneficial to the team and to you getting in the 17 to be able to play in a few positions."

Really, why do you feel the need to attempt denigration? Is it that important to you to be seen as superior in some ill perceived way ?

There is no doubt players are more versatile these days and indeed there is reduced difference between once-upon-a-time more distinct positions.... B U T individuals are still more suited to some roles over others. Ask poor Lee Smith: great FB but not so great in the threequarters.

I happen to think Ablett is best suited to LF, pretty good in second row and only adequate at centre. .. Showing versatility has been Smith's curse ( always the one shifted around to fill a gap, never allowed to make a single position his own )...

Hope it doesn't end up been a curse to Ablett too.

<Wheels>

Being.

</Wheels>

Do props these days play any other position - not dissimilar to 20 years ago, do wingers play any other positions - not dissimilar to 20 years ago, do half backs play any other position? does the hooker play any other position? So what has really changed Gareth?

All that has happened is we make very good players in one position into adequate players in another? The real quality players always play in the one position until age dictates otherwise. Has Webb played in any other position on a consistent basis? Senior of his 500+ games how many we not played in the centre, Ryan Hall what % of his apperances have not been on the wing etc.

I can think of a few wingers who are known to play centre or full back a bit, or vice versa (Matt King, Meli, Atkins, Lee Smith off the top of my head). The point really however is that where a person is named on the teamsheet doesn't always correspond to where they appear on the field in attack or defence. Every team will name a hooker, 2 props, 2 second rows, a loose forward and a scrum half. How many times a game does the scrum actually pack down like that?

Likewise, the practice of half-backs doing a stint at hooker is far from limited to Rob Burrow, and a few hookers spend time playing, in practice though not in name, as a loose forward too.

In defence, you often see players defending in other positions than the ones they're named in on the team sheet. Players move around and swap positions a lot during games. Most players are still specialist somewhere, but certain positions are starting to look increasingly identical, and the distinction between second row and centre is probably one of the blurriest.

Many players these days interchange betweeb prop and 2nd row.

Many players interchange between wing, cenrte and full back.

Many players play half back and other positions as well.

Many hookers play other positions.

What game are you watching David?

Your hero has played full back, wing, stand off and scrum half for Leeds.

Eric Grothe ?!?

Who have I denigrated?

That I am superior is a given and not up for discussion but why, when your opinion is challenged and an authoritative counterpoint made, do you feel the need to call a Waaaaaambulance?

Cliff Lyons ?!?

What is this game, I like it?

Don'tthink









he played on the wing did he ?

Hardly remember him being skinny either

Please forgive me. For all you know I might only be ten years old.

I over estimated you.

Although he did play at scrum half on occasions, I remember him primarily as a full back.

Was a good player too , but suffered a bad injury which cut his career short.

His mum & dad used to sit next to me in the North stand & occasionally Chris used to come to the game with them.

His butchers shop was on Domestic St (corner of Shafton lane) but closed a number of years ago.

You are right though, he is a big lad !

I remember that Butchers. It's been all sorts since it closed.

rlhttp://youtu.be/ROIGtQq8usIrl