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'Waste of talent' – Andrew Mehrtens weighs in on fly-half debate

Former All Black Andrew Mehrtens on TV punditry duty (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

As a French resident and part-owner of Pro D2 club Beziers, former All Black fly-half Andrew Mehrtens has been keeping a keen eye on this year’s Six Nations and the performance of France in particular.

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Before the opening match against Wales, the 70-cap international had called on Romain Ntamack to step up and show more authority on the pitch – but not in the way that he did.

Ntamack’s shoulder charge to the head of Ben Thomas earned him a 20-minute red card, which was upheld on review, and the Toulouse player faces a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday morning.

Ntamack, who had only just returned from a long-term injury, will almost certainly be banned which leaves France looking at their options at 10.

The French media have reported that Mathieu Jalibert will be given the playmaker role for Saturday’s ‘Le Crunch’ meeting with England at Allianz Stadium.

But the form of Thomas Ramos as a makeshift fly-half for club and country last season could persuade the selectors to go with him, or even switch Antoine Dupont to 10 and select either Racing 92’s Nolann Le Garrec or Toulon’s Baptiste Serin at scrum-half.

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Mehrtens has no reason to doubt that Dupont would excel one position further out but believes he would possibly be better served staying where he is, as the first link between forwards and backs, as demonstrated by his stunning 50-minute display in the 43-0 destruction of Wales.

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“For me, the next two 10s off the rank, neither of them would be 10s – Thomas Ramos and probably Antoine Dupont himself playing at 10 because he already pulls the strings at nine and you already have got other talented nines, Le Garrec and Baptiste Serin. They could probably quite easily slot in at nine, maybe not bring what Dupont brings, but at least you’ve still got him on the field.

“There is a case that says Dupont’s talent, his particular talent – his speed off the base of the ruck and that sort of thing – would be wasted if he was one (position) further out at 10 but I think organisationally, authority-wise, I think you could quite easily get away with having him at 10, too.

“The more I see of Thomas Ramos, the more I think, ‘Far out, he is fantastic,’” insists Mehrtens.

“I know he has a good side around him at Toulouse but he has played a few games recently at 10, when Ntamack wasn’t playing, and he was the difference really between the two sides even with all the talent they have got at Toulouse. The way he reads the game is absolutely fantastic.”

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Mehrtens added: “France is the one nation where the nine is the boss. That dates back to Jacques Fouroux, Pierre Berbizier, Fabien Galthié and those sort of guys. It probably dates back to Napoleon! The number ten in France is much more of an accessory.”

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Comments

6 Comments
j
jZ 13 days ago

"France number 10 is much more of an accessory... "

Lamaison, Michalack, Lacroix, Penaud, Lescarboura, Albaladejo, Camberabero....

T
Tom 13 days ago

France would be absolutely insane to even consider playing the best player in the world out of position. Not that the French rugby team are adverse to making head scratching decisions.

D
DA 10 days ago

Please tell us uneducated people who is the beat player in the world. Newspapers and magazines may say so bot is he???????

D
Downer 12 days ago

Best playmaker in the NH maybe

J
JPM 13 days ago

I would be very surprised Galthié takes such a decision. We already know that Ramos will play 15 because Buros and Barré are injured (and LBB is far more dangerous as a winger).

Jalibert will start as 10 except last minute surprise but we might see Dupont or Ramos playing 10 later on…

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JW 13 minutes ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

Sorta “rent a comment” kinda guy really.

Haha yep another great way to say it.


Look I actually agree with the guy, he might have heard something said and seeing as he loves to make a spotlight, and be in it, he decided/mistakenly came up with this headline grabber?


Despite what I already said was the actual idea for the topic he mistook, I think, at this particular moment, there are plenty of situations people should be sticking. I’m OK with the Dmac situation if its just until Stevenson and Etene start sharing the Fullback job. I’m OK with Barrett being left at 15 and Perofeta being given the job to displace Plummer (easy task for him imo) as the first five (with the ABs in mind). But pretty much all the others, like your suggestions, they are far off optimal understanding of their core positions so should be trying to specialize for a couple of years. Think Ioane and Proctor, one or the other, not trying to get both on. Barrett or ALB/Higgins/Lam, Sititi and Sotutu at 8, Finau/Haig/all the 6’s injured or gone etc.


From Razors perspective, of a coach on the limit of what can be achieved, he wants to a balance of core and niche. Having players able to cover situations when your down a man, through card or because he’s lying on the ground, you want your players to be adaptable. Does this mean he’d like them to learn that adaptable by playing other positions fully, like for a whole game in another position, or just as in terms of their skills sets. Because if you apply what I suggested Razor was referring to as “four” positions, wingers can be very useful in other roles like a carrying 12, or a pilferring 7, let alone benefit from a tight relationship and understand of what a 13 is trying to do for them.


This concept applies to pretty much every single position. Take your(my) Lock example, theyre now lifters, they can (size and shape allowing) ruck and maul like the front row, run like a back and offload like a basketballer. Many recent young locks of of this rangy razzle dazle variety.


Personally I really like and think that adding versatility is inevitable with the amount of training and really early highperformance skill/athleticism work they get through. Max Hicks looked interesting as a 2m beanpole playing openside in France, PSDT showing the frame is certainly viable (as apposed to the typical 6 playing lock), opensides really need a running/carry side to their play these days and could easily play in midfield. Halfbacks are starting to play standing up straight rather than low to the ground, how cool would it have been if the Hurricanes had decided to retain Preston by switching Roigard to 10 for this season? Like Leroy Carter they’re already good wingers with the right pace. I do really see the back three players staying were they are for the most part though, unless theyre special players like Dmac.

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