The Role Of Centres In Rugby (VIDEO ESSAY)

My explanation of the role of the inside and outside centre in rugby union...Signed NGJ

[@lenbkula]

I just got moved into 13 from wing and was wondering about defending at this position. This video has been so educational ❤️ Thanks a bunch. I'll be sharing your channel to a couple of mates of mine who've just started playing rugby 👍 cheers mate

[@roimatanui]

No.12 position changed from being another 10 ( 2nd-5-8th) to Inside Center. All Blacks played alot of Kick/pass/run playing no. 12s with Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister and Dan Carter, who played outside Andrew Mehrtens before he played 10. Then rugby culture shifted with big, ball running 12s. Nonu adding his passing and kicking skills later made him the best in the world.

[@user-eo7gl4yq2u]

NZ always had big ball running centres. That is because league players would cross code and most league forwards couldn’t adjust to being a rugby forward.

[@cmwenda92]

Conrad Smith? The understated glue of the All Blacks and a perfect balance with Nonu?

[@TheNoahJarvis]

I agree, the stickiest Glue of them all

[@alexvolkerling]

@@TheNoahJarvis Yet somehow also the slipperiest

[@montynaiduki4651]

well balanced duo

[@JohnyTuff1]

@@alexvolkerling They didnt call him "Snake" for nothing.

[@tjthegreat7]

The best and most perfect duo of all time

[@benm1308]

I was so annoyed by the lack of Jonathan Davies right till the end

[@paulvallet8063]

Really well made video, love how the development of the argument is kept tight despite the video being so dense. It's really nice to have some rugby footage in the background, however its relevancy to what you say could greatly be improved to make those videos even better. This way we would actually pay more attention to what's going on on the screen while listening about it, rather than having for the most part just some images to rest our eyes on while we listen to some great podcast.

[@ludwigsolomona9607]

I agree!

[@yolodolo7030]

Bro it’s weird how u always upload a video I need or want . I have been wanting to research more about benign a center Because I want to change my position I have been working hard to change my position from hooker to a center .. I play for Bermuda’s rugby team .. keep up the good work bud

[@fbprofreestylers3053]

I was a second row and I’m a centre now and play for Munster u19

[@ghostbuckzhy1024]

@@fbprofreestylers3053 I plan on changing from second row to centre aswell what would you recommend working on. I am 6"1 weighting 87kg at 13% body fat and strong but not the fastest and I am only 15

[@joeyleung23]

Best centres in my opinion are Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Jean de Villiers and BoD.

[@MeanAzz_13]

Ma'a Nonu 🇳🇿 & Danie Gerber 🇿🇦 Be my dream combo

[@vernoneatwell5449]

Oh, that'll be an awesome combo

[@Patrick8804]

the two GOATS unstoppable

[@Khp1983]

Danie Gerber such a great springbok if not the greatest of all time. I’m sure Naas Botha would agree

[@finncostellooreilly5614]

Patrick8804 maa nonu and Conrad Smith has already been proven unstoppable

[@madodaludidi3696]

A bit sad there's no mention of Conrad Smith or Jacques Fourie. Good video, just difficult to keep up with all the new categories of centre.

[@BenLewis-ni1zb]

My son now plays outside centre. I never understood this position as a number 8 but hopefully this will shed some light!

[@neegee108]

You should do one of these styles of vids for all positions. For new rugby players like myself, they're invaluable. Awesome video.

[@Cameron_fish]

Sam Johnson is a pretty good 12 at the moment. He runs hard and distributes well, should be starting 12 for Scotland at the World Cup and one to look out for.

[@TheNoahJarvis]

I'm a big fan of his actually, I hope he does well!

[@connormacphail5789]

Also a big fan 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@emmeleigh2337]

My 1st NGJ Rugby video. Really appreciate your efforts. Alliteration 👍. Literary references 🏆. Subject matter & opinion easy to follow 🏉🏉⭐. Examples were choice, even for this rugby neophyte from the US. Ma'a Nonu needs to be in a Black jersey come September. Also, your archive footage stunned me! Forgot that J Goodhue's hair existed before the mullet. Best of luck on the pitch & in the production booth. Cheers.

[@rivingtonpike7899]

On defence, 12 typically makes the most tackles of any of the backs, often double digit and may be the only double digit tackler in the backs during a game. The tackles tend to be on opposition players coming from head on. The 12 needs to be strong and powerful enough to diffuse heavy carries, including from forwards running on phase 1 and 2 ball. Think Scott Gibbs on the 1997 Lions Tour, Jamie Roberts, Ma Nonu, all big powerful guys. The 13 needs to be more rapid to cover the 13 channel, which the fast opposing backs (often the attacking fullback) will seek to exploit. 13 has to make less tackles than 12 overall but normally more than all the other backs. 13 also makes fewer head on tackles but needs to be fast and a good decision maker. Traditionally considered the hardest defensive position. Neither BOD nor Conrad Smith are huge blokes but they had the toughness, speed and decision making to be excellent defensive centres (both amazing in attack too ofc)

[@carolinemamelpo9795]

Thank you this was quite helpful

[@joneh9483]

Wow! just found this channel today and i must say this is one of the most informing series about rugby on youtube, absolutely love it!🤙

[@harryhoon39]

OMG F-ING GOD!!!!!! why have I only just found this channel I love it. Great videos on rugby. I can't even sleep atm waiting for world cup I fucking love rugby. Very cool channel.

[@Aumscuba]

Loving the background music. It's just soo beige

[@callumscott953]

I think one of the variations of centers is the 'purely defensive' center. Think like a Damian de Allende type center. Who is not strong enough to be out and out crash ball and not very creative and not very good at distributing. He's basically there to make lots of tackles and be more solid than traditional centers against creative opposition backs while being just barely passable on attack. Thats what South Africa has being doing for years down the inside center channel.

[@hlomlamakwetu4119]

this is a horrible take. Clearly don't watch the Springboks. You're using Damien's elite defensive abilities against him. He gets over the advantage line very single time. Guaranteed go forward. Admittedly a decent playmaker but his real strengths are his speed, size and agility. Even chips in at the breakdown he's basically an extra loose forward.

[@pjneethling26]

Quality videos. I'm subscribing. Thanks.

[@louisjwiese5515]

Interesting video. I remember in the late 90s, under Nick Mallet's successful tutelage of the Springboks, how Pieter Muller and André Snyman was used as an effective combination. Both were legendary strongmen and so called "tough guys" locally. And were well known to physically hurt opposition players regularly in their hard style of tackling. At the same time, Muller was a good distributer, and Snyman was well known as an ex-wing and paceman on the offensive side of the game. Their combination worked especially well against the All Blacks and Wallabies. Too bad they only played a few games together, as they both were injury prone. In terms of the guys you mentioned, I am a bit surprised you didn't mention Conrad Smith, Jacques Fourie, Frank Bunce, Jason Little, or Tim Horan... Also, from what I have seen, Jean De Villiers was a decent distributer, creative player, a strong gain line attacker and also very fast. Probably because he had played as both a flyhalf and winger in his school days. I rated him and Conrad Smith way up there in terms of players who played the game in the last 10 years.

[@tobystanbridge5837]

Best centre run bundi Aki and tuilagi (probably butches it) is a prime example of powerful 12

[@ravneetram3959]

Really well made..

[@joshuaong5503]

I love it how you keep saying Maa Nonu while showing SBW on the video. A little dig there of who should have been going to RWC2019 for sure.

[@Roberto_79]

Great video and well explained. I spent my playing days as an outside centre in the mould of Jeremy Guscott. Lots of pace and a decent pass off either hand. The one name you missed in your descriptions belongs to my pic as the greatest all black player of all time (yes I said that) Mr Conrad Smith.

[@1Molehill]

The Scarrat/Burford combination of centres, has worked amazingly for England over the years.

[@johneire31]

Brian O'Driscoll was arguably one of the best outsides that every played the game.

[@bedrockballs588]

Lovely video mate

[@louispescheux8736]

This was brilliant

[@zephanish]

No Conrad smith, no Jaque Fourie, no Tim horan? Cmon man

[@aotearoa4eva924]

Near the end of ma á nonus' all black career not only was he the best gain line 12 and the best distributing 12 at the same time(that long flat pass he had was beautiful) he was the best kicking 12 aswell. G.O.A.T 2ND 5

[@edandchris5752]

What should I do? I’m usually an outside center who converted from a winger but I will play full back and wing sometimes

[@OverlapRugbyPodcast]

Really enjoyed this. Very informative and well presented. Kudos!

[@TheNoahJarvis]

Thankyou man, I actually came across your channel yesterday! Keep up the good work 👌🏽

[@BRUGBYHooligans]

Great vid!

[@niueboi]

Can you make a video for Locks ? Loosies ?

[@curtismartin2796]

No Conrad Smith? Seriously No Conrad Smith? I just cant take this seriously sorry

[@samsau6064]

aslo conrad smith in nz we just call the "inside center" second five. so the backline go's first five, second five, center, right wing and left wing.

[@samsau6064]

and his name is nani (nah-nee) laumape

[@maykay.jaykayman9647]

Johnathan Davies and Conrad Smith are gods of wizardry outside centre magic.

[@joshuariley9253]

Tim Horan should be at the start of the conversation

[@Danjobeth]

And frank bunce, aaron mauger and felipe contepomi?

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Go forward Rugby seems to be the new modern strategy.

[@griffingudaitis7804]

Where you have been mate? Your videos are great!

[@michaelbaker7499]

At around 10:56 you made a slip of the tongue. Those types of centres who put there bodies on the line are know as Brad Barritt. P.S. I wrote this before watching the whole video, pausing it at the 10:56 mark. So I didn't know you where about to bring up Barritt. Love it.

[@amiengamiet6848]

I don't think u gave the combination of Jean de Villiers and Jacques Fourie for the Springboks and provincial enough mention here.

[@nickjohns1192]

We can all agree Nonu was just a fucking beast 💪 💚🤍🧡

[@brgw8]

line break merchant - love it!

[@elincarvalho4152]

Wow, you sound so cool. Like soooooo cool!

[@Ben_Dover15]

Great video but no BOD clips? Or smith or de villiers

[@pwrforce6652]

right on with Ngani

[@poe963]

Looking forward to watching Semi Radradra in full flight #WorldCup

[@adamabdullah1734]

Exactly what does centre does?

[@inny12]

Conrad Smith? Greatest 13 of all time

[@fbprofreestylers3053]

Tie between him and o Driscoll

[@odongocronk9693]

Sir snakey takes it mate

[@Live.Laugh.Lobotomy]

Jacob Inerfield got to be bod

[@JGDT5559]

Jacques Fourie not bad either

[@alexvolkerling]

Must say i feel a bit sad that Conrad wasnt mentioned in this video

[@mikedangerdoes]

Anyone else get a lot of ads during this? I mean, like seven or eight? Was an interesting video but hard to keep the flow going.

[@guyleroux9603]

Kurtley beale and Matt giteau are class for Australia

[@andrewmackinnon7918]

come on there average at best

[@guyleroux9603]

Andrew Mackinnon maybe now but in the last World Cup

[@ItsjuuhsRome]

Uppercut yourself 😂😂.. they trash

[@harrisonsmith7855]

surely berirck barnes is the perfect example of the aussie 12

[@MuddHutter1]

You obviously have not heard of Tim Horan.

[@zephanish]

Tim Horan is the best centre Aus has ever fielded

[@etmille28]

Couldn't Romain Ntamack also be concidered as a "Distributing 12" ? He played 10 for Toulouse and France and also switched to center during some games.

[@mightytgaming3]

Lovely🔥🔥🔥 Please do flankers next please

[@NickTheSwordsman]

Flankers are some of the best athletes on the field in my opinion! Flankers are what happens when forwards think that they’re backs 😂😂

[@inny12]

Although centre partnerships are very important, I think the balance with the fly-half, and therefore the complete 10-12-13 combination is more important. Your 13 and 10 should match each others skill set, with the 12 as the "other" option. Say you have an attack minded 10 (Barrett, Ford, any Aussie ever, Sexton etc,), you should line up with more of a crash ball 12, and a speed merchant/ magician 13. This Attack-Defence-Attack (A-D-A) combination in the 10-12-13 provides the most balance. However, if you have a more traditional, solid, conservative 10 (Wilko, Farrell, Biggar, Steyn), you need that spark from a ball playing 12, otherwise the ball will never make it outside the 13 channel. In this scenario the 13 needs to be a ball-carrying threat, as it is essentially +1 rugby further down the line. This 10-12-13 is a Defensive-Attacking-Defensive (D-A-D) structure, and allows to play tight, but toss it out wide from centre when required. Carter-Nonu-Smith is the exception as all 3 were immaculate. But looking through international 10-12-13 combinations, the most successful ones, use that A-D-A, or D-A-D line up. Other combinations of this can be effective in one off scenarios, but for continued success this has proved to be the winning formation Centre partnerships have to compliment the 10s skill set, or you'll end up with England 2003--present.

[@mahmudabdulwadud8515]

what happened to England 03-present? i dont get it

[@Max-js2db]

2009 Jamie Roberts 😂😂

[@spenny4429]

The role of a flanker next up?

[@aar1967]

re: 13... Odd how little reference you make to O'Driscoll. And no mention of Conrad Smith.

[@mahmudabdulwadud8515]

Anyone mind to share the summary of content in the video? really appreciate it.

[@sagamauga8074]

Ma'a Nonu💪

[@aidandinneen7721]

Imagine Nonu and O'Driscoll. They'd just pass to each other going up the pitch

[@opetaiaseni1955]

Semi radradra is a center in rugby union but he's a winger in rugby league

[@MrLinkinparkrules]

Oky, great! Now tell the springboks please!!!

[@user-bo3ft1bp6s]

Best position fly half

[@dovidgoldstein2725]

Make a video on the tighthead

[@palochama5090]

Conrad Smith was glue

[@richardevans9698]

Jonathon Davies And Jamie Robert’s?

[@eyesack9142]

Conrad Smith & Stirling Mortlock

[@lipzjawz6483]

Make a video on loose forwards

[@williamwallace2278]

BOD & D'arcy, Walter Little & Frank Bunce

[@sekanssekans7059]

Can't believe you neglected Conrad!

[@JohnSmith-mu8zo]

5:25 my guy got clattered

[@jackcarling7693]

Buddy, will u get in trouble for using “real rugby” videos? P.s. good video and new names for types of players

[@bremCZ]

In Ngani the Ng is pronounced like the "ng" in a soft G "ing" the phoneme in English is /ŋ/ If you struggle with /ŋ/ you're better to drop the G entirely than pronounce it hard. Many other polynesian language "ng" are pronounced the same way.

[@sesetio338]

It's like saying nah but with a 'g' in between.

[@bremCZ]

@@sesetio338 No its not a G sound. It's a /ŋ/ sound.

[@robertopallaro6558]

best 12 for playing wide is felipe contepomi 2007 with hernandez

[@Fifer01]

Levani Botia is a good 12??

[@martinnjoroge6006]

What about snakey.Surely he's a person you can't ommit while talking centres

[@TheNoahJarvis]

He’s at the same level to me as odriscoll but I just used him as the example cause he was the first one I could think of. Great player tho

[@Jamac007]

No mention of Walter Little and Frank Bunce??

[@wasketonene9072]

Hard! This guy probably to young to remember them..

[@mochababy2]

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL

[@icouldoflovedyouforever3361]

How about ab devillers ?

[@georgehoran8307]

I was just about to criticise you for not mentioning J Davies, but you did at the end, so very good video, will watch again

[@richcastle6796]

So who the hell should mad king Eddie pic as his 12/13 ?

[@AF-sh9pj]

Tuilagi and slade?

[@akahlulwamzantsi466]

Jean De Villiers?

[@timrogers2045]

He's one of the great centres for sure man.

[@justeazy4449]

Didn’t mention Conrad Smith once 😅

[@paulthomson2288]

Role is to give their wings as much chance to score. Save 14.05 minutes.

[@aaronjohnston5724]

Stuart McCloskey is in my opinion the best twelve in Ireland as he's an incredibly physical player but at the same time has a high number of offloads and passes

[@TinieTekkerzZ959]

Semi Radradra is so powerful as well he can be used as a gainline 13

[@HelloWorld-fd2se]

u forgot to mention dan carter for fly half 12

[@stylekat]

Anton Lienert-Brown is the best all round 12 in the world imo. Laumape is the best attacking 12 though, hands down.

[@JohnyTuff1]

Imo ALB is the best 13 in the world, and Crotty is the best 12.

[@Tee.NZ.07]

😳 Yea nah

[@stylekat]

@@Tee.NZ.07 yeah nah? Interesting opinion you have there.

[@mandigowest5685]

Any winger tips anywhere pls

[@NickTheSwordsman]

Watch Carlin Isles and study how he trains, how he assesses a route, his form when he’s taking off in a full flight sprint. Speed kills as a winger so basically do everything you can to improve your speed + agility! Get yourself a weighted vest for while you’re training and if you train like a savage then come game day when the vest is off you will tear that game up!!

[@animekawaiichan9399]

Omg dude!! Jaque fourie Adi Jacobs Marius Joubert Adam Ashley-Cooper Stirling Mortlock James O'connor JP Peterson Drew Mitchell Matt Giteau Wynand Olivier Juan de Jongh Stephen Jones Owen Farrell Jonathan "Tana" Umaga Tuilagi brothers (Freddie, Manu & Anitelea) You didn't even mention ONE of these guys! What a shame!

[@samukeloz8715]

Didn't hear much on Conrad Smith.... Personally the best 13

[@Aliestwill]

Add my voice to the Conrad Smith fan club. Maybe didnt fit the analysis not having any obvious physical attributes.....but should be a textbook example to any young player on how to play the 13 channel.

[@gpoll95]

Are you still playing for tring? Will you be playing in their pre season game vs derby?

[@TheNoahJarvis]

yeah i'm still playing for tring, but i'm holiday for that game unfortunately :( do you play for derby?

[@gpoll95]

Yeah, unlucky! Would’ve been cool to say hello

[@TheNoahJarvis]

Ahhh man, yeah it would have been dude. Good luck in the game tho man, what position do you play, ill look out for you on the video.

[@icarus877]

Nanu the best inside centre. Crikey that's pushing it.

[@michaelkonelio7452]

He’s the greatest 12, he had it all. Speed, power, step, passing and kicking…name me a 12 who has it all?

[@LuisAndrade-vg1hf]

I love to play flanker or centre 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@angusjamesprain]

Great video and chat, really interesting to hear about specific positions in such depth. But the fact that Conrad Smith's name is not even mentioned makes you lose all credibility for me. Yes, this singular omission is so jarring that it simply undoes what trust you build up throughout the video. Sorry.

[@attackpatterndelta8949]

Kyle Eastmond was criminally underused by England.