Sir "Mighty Mouse" McGeechan writing in the Sunday Telegraph today:

" I thought the choice of Joel Tomkins at outside centre was also a success. He is a very clever defensive player, and apart from one lapse his reading of the game was superb.

It is important to have a player who is very strong in terms of knowledge and awareness at 13, and those qualities were very much in evidence in the way Tomkins played. I was very much impressed by him, and by his physicality."

Two other positive references elsewhere in the same article.

When someone as steeped in RU as McGeechan has that opinion I think it's fair to say Tomkins has a future in the code.

Singing Warrior had it right when he said that the town of Wigan should proud of the success of all its sporting sons rather than decrying those who choose another path. Who knows, one day the RFU may want to adopt Wigan St Pats as its northern academy!

He's been playing mainly inside centre (12) which is generally the second receiver. Very similar to a traditional half back in league.

Not strictly true.

Inside centre can play a number of roles. The Ideal 12 is a crash ball player, who offers a 2nd kicking option, with a great passing game. Very strong in the tackle & big enough to be an extra forward if needed.

The guy who played yesterday (twelvetrees, Or 36 as he is known) ticks most of these boxes, even though he doesnt really excel at any.

If you want to play a more attacking game you pick someone like Eastmond who can play the expansive game by challenging the defensive line with ball in hand.

Or you can go the other way & pick someone like Brad Barritt like they have done for the past few years. A total crash ball centre who only has one job. Get ball, Run at nearest defender. Obviously this doesnt lend itself to attractive Rugby, but we live in the Northern Hemisphere and therefore this type of player becomes a legend.

Eastmond will struggle to get constant international recognition at 12 because he isnt the big crash ball player they want. Until they change their mentality (which they seem to be doing slowly) they will always pick someone closer to Brad Barritt than to Eastmond.

Thanks for that still. As time passes all Bill McLaren's commentaries blur into one and the database gets scrambled.

Exactly Dave, Joel's probably more famous than Sam now!