He played there frequently for Ospreys and he played there last year for Ulster before injury wrecked his season. Tommy Bowe's name has been linked to outside centre along with several other Irish players and if looked at broadly, he is the most equipped to step into the role for Irish coach Joe Schmidt.
Bowe said today he enjoyed playing the position and apart from Brian O’Driscoll, he is the only Irish player in the current squad who has played there at Lions level
“I enjoyed playing 13,” said Bowe at the Irish training camp in Kildare. “I played a lot there when I was over at the Ospreys and I was lucky enough to play the third test of the Lions at 13 as well so . . . I did enjoy it when I got the opportunity.
“In fairness I think mixing it up and going to different positions is always exciting for a player. Whenever you play in the one position you kind of . . . when you get to move different positions you get to try different skills to round your skill set.
“I played only one game for Ulster last year at 13 and enjoyed it very much. At the minute, with the year that I’ve had, I need to concentrate playing on the wing and get myself into form again.”
Bowe is far from ruling out a move and with some contenders injured, Connacht's Robbie Henshaw a novice at international level and Ulster's Jared Payne yet to step up to test level with Ireland, Bowe's experience won't be lost on Schmidt, who has to make the call in little over a month.
The Irish coach is well covered in the wing positions even if a fit Bowe would be a first pick. But in a needs must scenario, the Monaghan man may also be the least disruptive choice.
Bowe’s concern now, however, is consolidating his place on the team. Having had no international action for almost a year, there is a focus on simply making it to the pitch. But he has had the positional conversation with Irish management.
"I've chatted to Les (Kiss) obviously last year. I chatted to Joe a small amount," says Bowe. "Again I think that for me personally, having missed the summer tour, having missed the Six Nations, having missed quite a lot of rugby last year . . . I'm just excited about getting back out on to the pitch and if that's on the wing super, If it's to get a go at 13, I'll definitely enjoy that challenge."
The difficulty Schmidt has is that the position is not a straight forward slot in. O’Driscoll’s experience paid in spades and as he got older he managed the role perfectly and was able to shape defensive formations and adjust to his decline in certain areas, namely pace.
The nuance and the tactical demands don't automatically come in the same package as talent. Darren Cave is playing there with Ulster , Brendan Macken with Leinster and Henshaw in Connacht, the form Irish province so far this season. Payne has been moved from fullback with the begging question being how long it takes to play there at test level.
“Thirteen is probably the most difficult position on the pitch,” says Bowe. “It’s where gaps can definitely pop up and Brian . . . we’ve been very fortunate over the last few years in Ireland, that Brian has been such a . . . his defence has been one of the stand out parts of his game. It’s something that we do a lot of practice on.
“Any of the centres, they don’t just jump in there. It comes with a lot of experience. I think over time you get to come to grips with it but certainly the difference between playing at club level and playing at international level is a massive step up.”
