History shows too many pivots never spoil a broth

HAVING a number of five-eighths in the Wallabies line-up tonight isn't a bad tactic by Deans as long as they complement each other.

IS having too many five-eighths in one team a good or bad thing?

If you look at the Wallabies team to meet the British and Irish Lions tonight in Brisbane you have to wonder if stacking the side with playmakers is an advantage or disadvantage by playing too few specialists.

James O'Connor, playing at No 10 in only his second time in 50 Test matches, hardly needs the pressure of knowing that three of his teammates can easily fill his place if he doesn't have an immediate impact. His centre teammate Christian Lealiifano, debuting tonight for the Wallabies, is also an accomplished No 10 who plays the game without feeling the pressure and remains calm in any circumstance.

Fullback Berrick Barnes would prefer the No 10 jersey over playing at the back any day and, even though he is considered more of a utility player, his preference has and will remain as a pivot.

Then of course we have Kurtley Beale who played well at five-eighth on the Wallabies 2012 spring tour - saving the day for the Wallabies against Wales - and, like O'Connor, likes the attention that comes with playing closer to the action.

Having an abundance of No 10s can be problematic depending how the game is being played and, based on his selections, one must think that Robbie Deans is going to take the game to the Lions.

When I played it wasn't unusual to have three or four five-eighths in the starting line-up, but way back then the game was more spontaneous than the structured approach of today.

When I played for the Australian Schoolboys, we had three quality five-eighths in the one side, with me playing at No 10, captain Tony Melrose at inside centre and present ARU chairman Michael Hawker on the wing - the same scenario the Deans has had to deal with over the years.

Back then, the Australian Schoolboys played a running game that supported the coach's selection policy and it was comforting to know that all three No 10s went on to represent Australia at the highest level.

Even when I started playing representative rugby for Sydney and NSW, Hawker was only one pass away from me at inside centre, although the Manly club supplied another No 10 in Mitchell Cox, who played a number of games at outside centre and occasionally on the wing.

The same could be said of James Black, who also played senior rugby at Manly, but played most of his rep rugby at fullback when his preference was always at five-eighth. But like those before him, he had to adapt quickly in order to achieve his ambitions.

Of course my last year playing for the Wallabies, in 1984, was inside of Michael Lynagh, who went on to win a World Cup but learnt his trade at inside centre before taking over the mantle.

There is also a rumour that 1984 Grand Slam-winning captain Andrew Slack started off his rugby career at Souths in Brisbane as a five-eighth before moving to outside centre where he made a name for himself.

So having a number of five-eighths in the Wallabies line-up tonight isn't such a bad tactic by Deans as long as they complement each other.

There is one concern: O'Connor's limited time at No 10, against such a worthy opponent, especially with a talented but inexperienced support player like Lealiifano on his outside.

There is no doubt Deans will use a number of players at first receiver to take the pressure off O'Connor, but at the end of the day if he has any ambition of making the No 10 jersey his own, he will have to take control of the match without relying on others to protect him.

The phrase enfant terrible has over the years applied to O'Connor, whose behaviour as part of the notorious three amigos - with Beale and Quade Cooper - has done more to discredit his reputation than enhance it.

He is now in a position to cement his position, and ultimately his reputation, as one of the game's greats by showing leadership and maturity that comes with the position, which in recent years has been the talk of Australian rugby.

How he combines with Lealiifano will influence the outcome and, as much as he likes to play it off the cuff, he needs to think more about his decision-making, which will affect the way the backline performs.

For a start, he will have to temper his bravado and work closely with halfback Will Genia and Lealiifano to get into rhythm quickly in order for the Wallabies to settle into their game plan.

He needs to channel the ball wide to take advantage of the likes of Digby Ioane and Israel Folau to pressure the Lions' defence.

The Lions are there for the taking and, if the Wallabies can control the ball and stretch them out wide rather than try to bash them up the middle, they can win.