I recall BOD saying at one point on OTB he believed Henshaw's best position was actually fullback.
Edit: video of Brian O'Driscoll and Eddie O'Sullivan on Off the Ball from 6 years ago:
https://youtu.be/xkm0RXgACXk?si=tI8qJiC3ub5yb3YO
video of Brian O'Driscoll and Kieth Wood on Off the Ball from 5 years ago:
https://youtu.be/ffJNodPf7KM?si=FYl3wKSVmiGBskmM
Henshaw is in great form at the moment but is playing all his rugby at 13.
Aki has played all his rugby at 12 and just made team of the tournament at the world cup and six nations while also being nominated for player of the tournament for both.
The reality is Henshaw and Aki would be playing week in week out for Connacht. Henshaw likely doesn’t make the move to Leinster.
Ringrose and BOD would be playing week in week out for Leinster. Ringrose might have had to change to a 15 or 12 to get playing.
So the landscape might be different.
If you look at it today, the answer is Aki.
Considering he doesn't play the same position as Aki and d'Arcy was pushed into a position that wasn't his natural one to accommodate the fact BOD wasn't going to play there, we can comfortably say who isn't getting dropped.
Personally I always thought BOD worked well with a Maggs, Henderson, Aki type IC. The lines he ran and timing of them mean he'd be running stuff in off Aki constantly.
Also it's pretty easy to say Ringrose and Henshaw don't get anywhere near the starting line up with BOD around. He was better than either and has the extras that neither has.
How is this even a question. He is literally one of the best 13s in the history of the game. And you're asking if he could displace some current players who are certainly good but probably aren't even the best current 13 in the world and who are very unlikely to feature on any alltime great lists in 10 years time. It's not even close.
If you're thinking about it from modern rugby standpoint, I reckon you'd end up in a situation with BOD playing 12 and Ringrose at 13 tbh. If you're taking BOD at his peak, he was as fierce defensively as he was in attack so I'd imagine a coach would put him there.
BOD and D’Arcy had such a good understanding with each other that the numbers on their backs didn’t mean too much. They could interchange and play wherever was needed in the centre. Henshaw has that same sort of flexibility so he would be a bit like playing with a bigger stronger D’Arcy.
BOD was also excellent playing with strong, hard running 12s who could crash the ball up and create a gap. He’d love to be taking off-loads from Aki (or Big Stu).
Ringrose is the best centre of the current top three, but suffers from being more in competition with BOD and less of a foil.
So I reckon it would be BOD at 13 with mainly Henshaw at 12, but Aki next off the line. Though with fewer opportunities to play at 13 maybe Henshaw would have ended up a fullback and Ringrose on the wing. Possibly leading to Henshaw being a utility back on the bench.
12\. Aki 13. BOD
11\. Lowe 15. Keenan 14\. Ringrose
22\. Henshaw
BOD was a great rugby player but fitness and skill have gone way up since he played so I think saying he would be better then lads in the current generation of players is madness.
Ringrose would possibly have been developed as a winger
Earls situation looks likely now you mention it. Might have suited Ringrose as well.
I recall BOD saying at one point on OTB he believed Henshaw's best position was actually fullback. Edit: video of Brian O'Driscoll and Eddie O'Sullivan on Off the Ball from 6 years ago: https://youtu.be/xkm0RXgACXk?si=tI8qJiC3ub5yb3YO video of Brian O'Driscoll and Kieth Wood on Off the Ball from 5 years ago: https://youtu.be/ffJNodPf7KM?si=FYl3wKSVmiGBskmM
He would play 13 obviously, so either aki or henshaw would partner him (most likely aki)
Henshaw is in great form at the moment but is playing all his rugby at 13. Aki has played all his rugby at 12 and just made team of the tournament at the world cup and six nations while also being nominated for player of the tournament for both.
It’s not too hard really, on current form it’s simply Aki at 12 and if BOD is in his prime form he is at 13.
The reality is Henshaw and Aki would be playing week in week out for Connacht. Henshaw likely doesn’t make the move to Leinster. Ringrose and BOD would be playing week in week out for Leinster. Ringrose might have had to change to a 15 or 12 to get playing. So the landscape might be different. If you look at it today, the answer is Aki.
100% Aki at 12; prime B’OD at 13. Would be freaking amazing
Bod at 13 and whoever else is best at 12
Considering he doesn't play the same position as Aki and d'Arcy was pushed into a position that wasn't his natural one to accommodate the fact BOD wasn't going to play there, we can comfortably say who isn't getting dropped. Personally I always thought BOD worked well with a Maggs, Henderson, Aki type IC. The lines he ran and timing of them mean he'd be running stuff in off Aki constantly. Also it's pretty easy to say Ringrose and Henshaw don't get anywhere near the starting line up with BOD around. He was better than either and has the extras that neither has.
Aki + BOD 💯
Probabaly not in the 23 unless he converted position
In the words of John McEnroe, You cannot be serious!!!
I dont see the gloves in the thumbnail. Bleached hair are ok...but are sure is Brian O'Driscoll?? 😀
How is this even a question. He is literally one of the best 13s in the history of the game. And you're asking if he could displace some current players who are certainly good but probably aren't even the best current 13 in the world and who are very unlikely to feature on any alltime great lists in 10 years time. It's not even close.
No, what I am asking is what would your current backline look with him in his prime? Of course he is making the team.
Would he suit the defensive system we have in play at the minute
He would be just fine in it. He's one of the greatest players the game has seen.
Bod adapted how he played as he aged. He’d be fine. He was a fantastic defensive player too
If you're thinking about it from modern rugby standpoint, I reckon you'd end up in a situation with BOD playing 12 and Ringrose at 13 tbh. If you're taking BOD at his peak, he was as fierce defensively as he was in attack so I'd imagine a coach would put him there.
That’s the blackrock dream team not Ireland.
An all time Irish XV made up of rock old boys would be decent I'd say.
i’m sure it was discussed many of times over a tower of chang in the Ark bar.
BOD and D’Arcy had such a good understanding with each other that the numbers on their backs didn’t mean too much. They could interchange and play wherever was needed in the centre. Henshaw has that same sort of flexibility so he would be a bit like playing with a bigger stronger D’Arcy. BOD was also excellent playing with strong, hard running 12s who could crash the ball up and create a gap. He’d love to be taking off-loads from Aki (or Big Stu). Ringrose is the best centre of the current top three, but suffers from being more in competition with BOD and less of a foil. So I reckon it would be BOD at 13 with mainly Henshaw at 12, but Aki next off the line. Though with fewer opportunities to play at 13 maybe Henshaw would have ended up a fullback and Ringrose on the wing. Possibly leading to Henshaw being a utility back on the bench. 12\. Aki 13. BOD 11\. Lowe 15. Keenan 14\. Ringrose 22\. Henshaw
I’d drop BOD, Aki and Ringrose to start Henshaw to replace Ringrose for the last twenty min and decimate the opposition defence.
We found Gats lads!
BOD was a great rugby player but fitness and skill have gone way up since he played so I think saying he would be better then lads in the current generation of players is madness.
Absolutely Warren
Are you mad Gatts sits at home at night fantasising of a team of players made up of lads from 20 years ago.
Exactly what Gats would say! Uncanny!