Given the stature of Brian O'Driscoll as one of the greatest centres to ever play the game, there are few better qualified to weigh in on the debate surrounding Ireland’s current centre partnership.
For what the seems like the first time, all three of Ireland’s leading centres (Ringrose, Henshaw, and Aki) are all fully fit at the same time.
While Aki and Ringrose started against France with Henshaw on the bench, the Athlone native had just returned from injury. It still unclear what Farrell views as his first choice duo.
Speaking at the launch of the Guinness Giveaway, O’Driscoll was very clear with what he believes is the best partnership, with one particular aspect of Bundee Aki's game being the deciding factor.
For me, everyone playing well, I think the best centre partnership is still Robbie and Garry.
Bundee has been very good but there has been a couple of things, if you are trying to split hairs because his performances have been very good.
But yet if you look at the Welsh game a couple of times he tucked and went himself when he could have thrown an alternative option. Because he’s so powerful and strong he still gets over the advantage line, he still makes two or three yards and it doesn’t look particularly negative.
Then the alternative option; if he throws the pass around the corner or he takes the slightly more dangerous route, it’s higher risk but it’s very high reward where it feels like try time. Coaches will have picked up on that.
I looked at both the French and the Welsh game a lot and particularly the Welsh game, there was just a couple of times that if passes were thrown the score line could have been even bigger.
3 February 2002; Brian O'Driscoll, Ireland, releases the ball despite being tackled by Kevin Morgan, Wales. Ireland v Wales, Six Nations Championships, Landsdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
It is an interesting point from Brian O’Driscoll and perhaps emphasises the tiny margins when comparing players at the very top level.
Aki’s passing has been criticised in the past, and O’Driscoll points out that while this may not matter in games where Ireland win easily, it may be the difference in winning or losing against the likes of France:
There’s not much between all of these players, that’s what I’m saying. When you split hairs it’s those little things that can count when games are tighter.
It’s not in the games against Wales when you win by 20 points, it’s when there’s nothing between the teams and there’s hardly any opportunities but you get one and you go the tough route, rather than playing it safe and you get rewarded and win the game versus not winning the game.
Garry, for me, is the obvious choice 13. He’s playing really well at the moment and defending really well, making really good incisions, coming into the game in the second half really well against France having been starved of possession in the first half.
When Robbie is fit and well he’s been brilliant the last year. I continually go back to that when everyone is playing well but the margins are very small.
What is certain is that any combination of the three is a world class and fearsome partnership, and the one to drop out can count themselves as desperately unlucky.
See Also: 13 Photos Of Brian O'Driscoll Not Looking Like The 2021 Brian O'Driscoll
