Former All Blacks discuss a possible change to the No.13 position

For so long, the All Blacks had Conrad Smith to rely on at centre, and now they seem to still be searching for the long term answer, after the latest player to don the jersey may have left more questions than answers.

Rieko Ioane has spent a decent chunk of his 84-Test match career at centre, and now Billy Proctor has had three of the past four Test matches to try and cement his place in that jersey.

Three former All Blacks have discussed the No.13 position on The Breakdown, where they have talked about the two supposed leading candidates, Ioane and Proctor.

Former All Black centurion Mils Muliaina believes Proctor deserves another start in the No.13 jersey next week against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

“I think they need stability there, he needs another start, then they need to try and flourish this relationship that they have, or the combination that they have in the midfield with him, and also Barrett,” Muliaina told The Breakdown.

Current Sky Sport commentator and former All Black Jeff Wilson explains that the way the All Blacks are playing, it’s hard to look good at centre.

“It’s really hard to shine in the No.13 jersey, the fact of getting very few opportunities with ball in hand to actually carry and create.

“He’s not one of those players they are using to do that, he’s doing a lot of work off the ball, a lot of work in the contact areas, cleaning out rucks, having to defend a lot closer.

“I think it’s easy to highlight some of the errors that he is making, but he didn’t make many errors, today he got a yellow card, which was a little bit unfortunate, or he put himself under pressure.

“So for me, I think he stays, I think you’re investing in him,” Wilson says.

Former All Black halfback Justin Marshall disagrees with both Muliaina and Wilson, saying that Ioane is playing like a centre on the wing, so would like to see him back in the No.13 jersey going forward.

“I can’t agree. I feel that Rieko is playing like a centre on the wing. I haven’t seen him have a go at an outside on a break, haven’t seen him enough on counter attack, holding his width.

“He’s still gravitating in, and he’s running out to in lines as a winger, and what we need is him holding his space and taking on guys on the outside.

“He is still arguably the quickest guy on the team, but he’s not utilizing that speed because he’s now narrowed the way that he plays, because he’s used to getting closer to the rucks, and I just feel it’s not helping our attack.

“I would I would like to see him go back to centre and an opportunity for a Timoci Tavatavanawai and Leroy Carter to have a go on the wing, see what our shape looks like,” Marshall said.