In the old days, a centre partnership involved one big strong 'un to bash it up, and one fast elusive one to find gaps. A bludgeon and a knife. Think Carling and Guscott. Think Horan and Little. The fly-half would decide to put someone through a hole, or make a hole, depending on who he gave the ball to. But as the game evolved, teams started to close down the oppositon fly-halves. They made plans to stop the playmaker playing.

A different type of centre partnership had to evolve. One where the inside centre could be a back-up playmaker and tactical kicker. Teams could make plans to stop one playmaker, but it was much harder to stop two. New Zealanders still call the inside centre a 2nd 5/8th, and it became apparent, that the role of the man in the No.12 shirt was more akin to the fly-half role or 1st 5/8th. Aaron Mauger the Cantabrian has probably been the best player in this modern role, often creating space for those around him while taking the pressure off starlet Daniel Carter.

So, which category does the Noon/Tindall partnership fall? Well, neither really. Maybe Mr Robinson has a vision of a new centre partnership? Maybe all teams will copy this blueprint in years to come? Maybe, maybe not...

Tim Tunnicliff is the owner of http://www.ruggerbore.com an entertaining and informative Rugby Union opinions site full of articles and a discussion forum.

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