Fitzgerald set to take centre stage at Leinster
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
By Daire Walsh
Leinster assistant coach Richie Murphy has revealed that Luke Fitzgerald will be given a chance to play centre this season.
Ahead of their opening competitive game under the stewardship of new head coach Matt O’Connor against Scarlets in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Friday, and boosted by the return to fitness of Fitzgerald who made a full recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament injury, the Leinster player will be given a chance at outside centre this season.
“We’re definitely interested in looking at him in the 13 channel,” said Murphy. “Luke is coming back from injury and managing his situation is probably most important.
“It is something that we will be looking at, but when that will actually occur, we can’t really say at the moment.
“He has got great feet. He’s strong in the contact, both as a ball carrier and in that clean-out area. It is a position that he could play, but again it is just a case of getting an opportunity with someone that is coming back from injury to actually put him in that position.”
This is certainly an option that would excite the loyal supporters of the Blue Army, but although they are exploring a number of possibilities for this pivotal position, Murphy feels it isn’t something they are overly concerned about.
“It’s an area that we’re definitely keeping an eye on, but I wouldn’t say it’s problematic.
“We’ve got Brendan Macken and even the likes of Collie O’Shea, who is coming back from injury. We’ve got some good options. Adam Byrne could be looked at as a 13, but again at 19 years of age you’re trying to manage someone like Adam. Taking him from the wing and putting him in the centre might be a little bit difficult for him at that level.”