Starting the Kiwi at 15 would open up an exciting midfield possibility.
Much like Gordon D’Arcy in his latter years with Ireland, you missed Jared Payne when he was not around.
We spent so much time asking why Payne was not making line breaks and offloads that we forgot to notice the defensive work and intelligent support play he was putting in.
It was always going to be a big ask, filling Brian O’Driscoll’s boots. Robbie Henshaw was tipped for outside centre but Joe Schmidt shoe-horned Payne into the role.
He was Ireland’s defensive leader for the Six Nations and start of the World Cup but you always felt he was playing at 80%. Holding himself back. Curbing his attacking instincts.
Payne’s best position is fullback. It is where he does his best work. He has more time and space to pick smart lines and scythe through opposition lines.
He thrived at 15 for Ulster but was asked to play 13 for Ireland.
Now that Ireland have an abundance of midfield potential – Luke Marshall and Stuart McCloskey are vying for starts – it is perhaps time to put a real squeeze on Rob Kearney.
Payne notes that he has game time at centre and fullback in recent weeks, for Ulster. He adds that he will be happy to fulfill either role for Ireland. Payne says:
“I’ve been training all over the shop this week. I’m happy wherever.
“As long as I get on the field, after the first two or three phases, you get to pretty much play what’s in front of you. That is when you start to enjoy it.
“I’m happy wherever I get put but I will wait for Joe to make the call and do my job at the weekend.”
Payne says he does enjoy the added time and space that wearing the 15 jersey allows. He says:
“If that’s what opportunity presents itself but it’ll be a pretty tough game if you’re at the back against Wales. They’re a pretty good kick chase team, they’re very good in the air and you might not get as much time as you might like at the back.
“It’s more about being good in the air, physically covering the grass and if you get the chance you’ve got to try and light it up, don’t you?”
Luke Fitzgerald’s knee injury should see one of Simon Zebo or Keith Earls – the other fullback contenders – take a wing slot. Kearney may yet retain his jersey but Payne switching to fullback opens up midfield.
Were Kearney to miss out – and it would be a shock call – Stuart McCloskey could step in at 12 and allow Henshaw to take the 13 jersey many [including myself] feel fits him best.
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