Ireland call in two reinforcements as injury worries emerge

Long term injuries are hampering NZ rugby far more than in-game emergencies that require all these hybrid players. Building and retaining squad depth should be a priority over working out how to indefinitely develop versatility in a limited number of players.

There is a role for a utility back and a versatile loosie for sure, but only where they are the best or second best in one position. There is no point in having someone who is the 4th best 12 in the team because they are also the 4th best 13.

ABs definitely overweight versatility in their selections and at times it really shows, and makes it difficult to retain people who are the second and third best in a position, because they will be overlooked for someone who is the 5th best but also the 4th best at another position.

If 15s still did the kicking. There would be no Cullen,

Folau, Will Jordan etc.

Having a 15 that can kick is very useful. But as the 10 is a kicking position, and to free up the other positions for specialists, then the 10 should grab a couple of bags of balls and put some goal kicking practice in.

In most situations where the 10 isn’t the main goal kicker. The 10 is normally a good kicker, but another player is just better. In that situation someone else doing the kicking is fine.

But if the 10 doesn’t do it, then someone else has to. Often that player is not as good as another player in that position. In 1993 it was Shane Howath, who was a bit average at 15, in a test, and probably wouldn’t be in the team other than he was the goal kicker, because Steven Bachop (who was a gun punter, couldn’t be bothered to practice kicking goals).

As someone has to do the goal kicking, it makes sense that the best kicker in the team does gets the responsibility.

The 10 should have a good boot for punting etc. It isn’t a coincidence that most 10s are the goal kicker, because it’s normally just a matter of practice on top of a core skill for that position.

With the skill they already have with kicking, it’s not a stretch that they put a bit more practice in and become at least a passable goal kicker.

Yes, you can have the 10 as just a runner/passer, but that means the other backs are not the best at the core roles for their positions because they have to cover the core roles the 10 doesn’t have.

Makes one think how many chances will he get, while there are guys, that rarely ever, or even never get one.

20 caps for England already, without ever being convincing. Meanwhile, Ted Hill’s got two.

The Chiefs are clearly rolling a dice here, hoping they’d be able to fix what no one else could.

If they manage, it’s a steal.

Specialist positions need specialists.