Paddy Wallace is a 12? Cave is a specialist 13, not too sure what you solve by dropping Wallace..

Harsh on Earls but when you look at the squad for New Zealand, with only 2 specialist wingers and one fullback, its clear he’s gonna play in the back 3 down there..

He’s a natural 13

That’s a bit daft, don’t use Ireland’s second best 13, one of our best natural finishers and broken field runners just because we can decide where to play him

Thats the trouble with being a utility he’s got to be in there to cover

Sorry but Earls is no 13. He’s a class finisher alright but not good enough defensively. Looks like Munster have even copped on to this bringing in Laulala for next year. He’s a winger and a good one at that. Modern centres would mow him down because he just doesn’t have the physicality.Glad to see Tuohy and Ryan get a chance to work together. Could be a good partnership going forward.

Mark – are you saying that Darcy and McFadden have the physicality to play at centre and Earls doesn’t??

@ Mattoid
Not in the modern game, although I’d argue that McFadden is perhaps more physical than Earls. I doubt very much that Fofana and Rougerie, Roberts and Davies or Tuilagi and Barrit, let alone the Southern hemisphere boys, would be quaking in their boots at the thoughts of facing Earls to be honest. The modern centre is effectively another back row and there are some monsters out there. Isolate Earls in midfield and you’ll go over him. That was shown up in the World Cup against Wales and against England in the last game before the World Cup. Cave has a certain physicality that is necessary as does Nevin Spence, James Downey, Andrew Trimble. Bowe could yet end up in the centre as we have an abundance of good wingers. It’s not that I don’t rate Earls. He’s a class finisher which is why I think he is best served on the wing. Isolate him one on one with somebody on the wing and I’d put money on Earls to do him. But not in a crowded midfield.

Mark – I agree with you that the modern game is veering towards 6’6″ 16 stone battering-ram centres, as epitomised by Wales, England and the Blacks, but the problem is that Ireland just don’t have any players that fit that mould.
I would also share your concerns about Earls’ ability to defend against express trains, but I would have the same concerns about each and every other potential Irish centre.
O’Driscoll has certainly punched above his weight when it comes to defence, but Darcy and McFadden both have frailties, and as someone mentioned above, Paddy Wallace is a pretender at this level.
Cave is an exciting prospect as a potential successor to O’Driscoll but has yet to be fully tested on the big stage…
An Earls-Cave combination may be interesting, and if McFadden can become more consistent he’s well up there too (not saying that Earls is the most consistent player ever either!)…