WANTED: FLY HALF

By Chris Randall
May 14 2002

Ah, the number ten shirt, the controller of the game and a position which is central to any team. This player must be able to kick from hand either to touch to relieve the pressure, or just in-field to put pressure on the opposition defence under pressure.

Must also have the ability to jink through the gap to keep the opposition defence honest. Distribution to the centres must also be top notch to get a backline firing, must also have defensive capabilites to stop the opposition backrow from steam-rollering over him. Add to repertoire place kicking, the up and under (or Garryowen for our Irish readers), the grubber kick, drop goals and the crossfield kick and you know you are talking about a specialist.

Ever since the fabled season of 97/98 when a certain Mr Lynagh decided to hang up his boots, Sarries have struggled to find a replacement number ten. In fact in the last four seasons, no less then 8 players have tried to fill the gap at number 10. Alain Penaud, Thierry Lacroix, Duncan McRae, Luke Smith, Jannie De Beer, Nick Walshe, Tim Horan and Thomas Casteignede the list goes on and on. For whatever reasons these players have played for no longer than a season in this position and whilst all bring something to the table, none was the complete article. Penaud for example had great running skills but kicking from hand was suspect, Thierry had the kicking but probably lacked a yard of pace. This surely has now been targetted by Sarries as top priority for the coming season if we are going to have a chance of a top four finish. So lets take a look at the candidates being bandied around by the press and our current players:-

Tim Horan - played at number 10 this season and really brought a cutting edge to our backs. However this is probably going to be Tims last season and do we really want to change fly half again?

Thomas Casteignede - the mercurial french genius, could fill in at number 10 but came to Sarries to play full back. I agree with him, his talent is better suited when he has time on the ball.

Simon Amor - Caused a few ripples in the rugby world with his Hong Kong Sevens exploits, has not yet got a club, but can he cut the mustard in the fifteen man game?

Andy Goode - Part of the Leicester machine, obviously talented but once the Leicester pack has been taken away can he cope going backwards. Good kicking from hand skills however and Sarries seem to be interested.

Matt Leek - Waspies are after Goode (allegedly) which will leave Matt playing third fiddle behind Goode and King. A talented player when he left Sarries and ironically he would have got more first team rugby if he had stayed with us.

Choices, choices, choices, let's hope whichever Sarries go for, they go for them on a 3 year contract, we can no longer afford to have a player at 10 who is going to go after a year. This position above all (apart from maybe Head Coach) is one we need stability to build a squad from.

Agree with me or more likely disagree with me have your say on the message board!