A switch for Mortlock, for his own safety
Columnist
By Brett McKay, 4 Jun 2009 Brett McKay is a Roar Expert
Even prior to, but certainly since Stephen Larkham’s departure for Japanese rugby a few seasons back, Stirling Mortlock has been one of my favourite players ever to grace a sporting arena, let alone a rugby field.
As far as inspirational leaders go, there’s not too many running around currently that top Mortlock.
His barnstorming running has him recognised as one the best outside centres in world rugby, but it’s for his crunching defence that he’s even more renowned.
It seems every season for the last few years he has pulled off a massive hit of some description, with this season’s highlight being his bell-ringer on Auckland Blues prop Tony Woodcock at Canberra Stadium in early May.
Unfortunately for Stirling, these hits of his are not always to his benefit.
The Woodcock tackle this year was not the first time he’s come off second best from a collision. That tackle wasn’t even the first time Mortlock has been concussed this year.
I’m now forming the opinion that a positional switch is required for the Wallaby Captain, and I believe it’s needed for his own safety.
When Brumbies coach Andy Friend played Mortlock on the wing for a month or so this season, it was done for the purposes of team balance, rather than a feud (as some scribes suggested) or a major form drop.
Simply, centres Tyrone Smith and Gene Fairbanks both had to be on the field, and Mortlock had a lot of experience on the wing in his younger, follicly-friendlier days.
Whatever the reasons, Mortlock’s form surged from the flank, and it started me thinking that maybe a positional switch isn’t such a bad idea, if for no other reason than to remove him from the main defensive line, and the associated collisions.
But I’m not thinking Mortlock needs to go back to the wing, but in fact to fullback.
When Mortlock first played for the Brumbies, he spent his first two years hovering between fullback, wing and outside centre.
Similarly, when he made his Test debut in 2000, it was also on the wing. Now despite a lack a hard evidence to support this claim (and I did have a pretty good look, I thought), I’m pretty sure he also played a number of his initial Tests at fullback too, before ultimately finding a home at outside centre.
His form on the wing this year highlighted that none of those major skills have deserted him. His kicking and positional play was quite sound, and it was the display of these skills that first made me think of this move.
To me, this makes obvious sense.
By playing at fullback, Mortlock’s defensive workload drops considerably, while his attacking play need not change that much from how he currently plays at outside centre.
Ultimately, this all has to mean that a removal from, or drastic reduction in the number of collisions greatly reduces the risk of head injuries, of which he has a long history.
A switch to fullback would almost certainly allow him to play through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
I’m not sure that he’ll get there if he continues to cop the head knocks and the resultant concussion as he does.
Quite frankly, I think he’s only one or two more head knocks away from a forced retirement, as was the case for his one-time centre partner Elton Flatley in 2006.
Adding further weight to my theory is that fullback is a position in which both the Brumbies and Wallabies need to find a replacement for a former long-term tenant.
Outside centre seems to be a position of which both the Brumbies and Wallabies have plenty of options. I don’t know that that’s the case at fullback.
It seems a logical move, in my opinion, for all parties.
But of course, there is one obvious hurdle that could bring my theory to its knees before it’s even tried, and that hurdle’s name is James O’Connor.
The 18 year old Western Force wonder kid is being eyed by both Wallaby coach Robbie Deans and the Brumbies as a solution to their fullback vacancy.
I think there’s no doubt that O’Connor is set for a long (and hopefully successful) Wallaby career, and the fact that Deans withdrew O’Connor from the Australian Under 20’s side preparing for their World Championship in June certainly points toward his Wallaby journey taking its next few steps in the coming weeks.
Which all means that my great plan for Stirling Mortlock might amount to nothing, which would be a shame, because I think Mortlock in space is one of the greatest sights in rugby.
And fullback would definitely give him that space.
But if this is the case, then I hope the Captain is able to play through to the next World Cup.
A courageous and inspirational player like this deserves to end his career on his terms, and on the rugby field, rather than looking at a brain scan in a doctor’s office.
Follow Brett McKay on Twitter: @BMcSport
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Ack said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Brett,
I think his a legend too – but if his not up to it, then, I sorry to say it – his out.
We ar e in the luxurious position to have a plethora of back’s busting to wear the green and gold.
Most of them would make better fullbacks.
Sad but true.
Terry Kidd said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Yeah Brett, we don’t want another Gregan situation. If others are better, then its time for him to go.
TommyM said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
I think if he’s in that much danger he shouldn’t be playing rugby. You can’t have a player at S14, let alone international level avoiding contact, no matter how good they are.
I’ve never understood why Mortlock hasn’t donned headgear?? Having been concussed myself 3 times in 2 years playing rugby, I was told by doctors that I HAD to wear one or stop playing. As nice as his shiny pate is, surely a bit of padding would just let him play that bit longer (and HARDER!!)
Brett McKay said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
(despite the typo in my name in the header, this piece is in indeed mine. I’m sure Zac will rectify this at some point..)
Ack, I do agree with you to a degree, but as I wrote, there’s signs there that Mortlock could make an easy transistion to fullback, if it was required. But your “Most of them would make better fullbacks” comment is interesting, and even indicative of current thinking it seems. I’m surprised that of all the fullback options currently (and I won’t count Mortlock in this), there aren’t too many specialists. Ashley-Cooper was/is a centre, O’Connor plays 12 but will almost certainly end up at 10, and Mitchell, Turner and even Sheppard are all converted wingers. Even around the states, Gerrard started on the wing, Norton-Knight was a flyhalf, and McLinden was a RL halfback who switched to fullback, and then to rugby. So where have all the fullbacks gone??
Also, I wrote this piece before the team to play the Barbarians was named, and I have to admit I was VERY surprised to see O’Connor named on the bench. I fully expected that this would be the game to see how he goes at the back, but perhaps the Italy Tests are being eyed for this.
And obviously, I hope Mortlock has a strong game…
Brett McKay said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
TommyM, you’re not alone in your surprise. A few times, after bad concussions, Mortlock has worn the headgear for the next game or two, but it’s never lasted. Perhaps it’s a comfort/confidence thing, but yeah, you’d think the inconvenience would be a small price to pay for health and longevity in the game..
LeftArmSpinner said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Brett, Nope. Bad idea and it wont happen. Sorry to disappoint you. He is at 13 or 12 if Barnes is injured. He is not quick enough nor good enough at the things that Fullbacks wingers need to do. Frankly, AAC is not even close to being the finished article. But he is on the way up not the way down as Mortlock is.
It is not about protecting players. they need to judge that for themselves. Mortlock is not very good at that either. Kamakaze… good guy, and not a bad captain. good goal kicker but we have Giteau who is better.
ohtani's jacket, said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Yeah, Mortlock isn’t a fullback or even a winger. It’s 13 or Japan.
Conor said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Taking out our most damaging defender in the back line from the 1st line of defence doesnt sound like a good idea for me. Especially if the idea is for his own safety, ask him if he’s worried about hurting himself out there.
Playing rugby, he could shatter his knee next week (please dont), its just part of the game and not a good enough reason to try one of the greatest centres in the world out of position.
Brett McKay said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Not disappointed at all Leftie, it was an idea I’ve had for a while, and I thought this week was as good a time as any to put it out there. As I said in the article, I also think the chances of it happening are slim to none, but hey, you have to float these things sometimes.
One thing though, I think his days at inside centre are over. From the way the Brumbies played once Tyrone Smith and particularly Gene Fairbanks were back at 12, and even for the Wallabies where Barnes, O’Connor or even Cooper would be better options (obviously I’m talking in terms of attack). He doesn’t have the passing game to play at inside.
Ultimately, his future will be determined by the form of Tahu, Ioane, or Ashley-Cooper at 13 for Australia. I think Cross has dropped off the pace this year, and he may well beat Mortlock OS. And then, as OJ said, it’ll be a matter of chossing between Yen and Euro…
ballboy said | June 4th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
As an Aussie and a Brumbie supporter I’m natually a big fan of his work. I do think wing is his best option and he played his best rugby there this season. Defensively he is dynamite…when he makes the tackle but he has been found wanting a couple of times this year trying to make the big hit. If he’s on the wing he can inject himself where he pleases with his bullocking runs which would be a great card to play. He can probably do that at fullback as well. In fact, the more I write this and think about it, he would be the last bloke in the Oz backline I would want to kick the ball to with some space to build up a head of steam. Hmmm, maybe fullback isn’t such a bad option Brett.