Former Leinster and Scotland coach Matt Williams joined Monday Night Rugby to discuss Ireland's center options.
Joe Schmidt's legacy in Ireland will be remembered fondly in the future.
His remarkable success as head coach of Leinster and Ireland will be etched into the history books forever. But for now, the lingering distaste of his style of play still remains. Schmidt didn't play expansive rugby and many believe Ireland suffered against better teams because of it. As such, the discussion surrounding Ireland's team selection this week is centering around that.
Ireland have two British and Irish Lions centers in Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw. The latter is unlikely to play this week against Japan. The former may not start.
According to Matt Williams, Aki shouldn't start.
"I'd love to see Frawley get time at 12," Williams said.
"As the Kiwis say, a second five. That's like a second out half, a second five-eight as we call them in the South. He's probably more solid than that."
Starting Frawley over Aki at 12 would not only be replacing a Lion, it would be completely altering the identity of the position. Dating back to Kevin Maggs, Ireland have always had a bruising inside center. Ireland have had ball-playing centers but bulk and tackling have been primary traits.
Frawley is a converted out half who has proven himself at lower levels for Leinster as a center. The argument for starting him alongside Jonathan Sexton is that it would make Ireland more creative.
It would offer the team a second point of attack, with two more ready to come off the bench.
"Then Joey [Carbery] on the bench with [Simon] Zebo, there's two creative players on the bench. And Gary Ringrose, if he's given time, if he's got quick hands inside of him to give him a few steps with the ball in hand, Gary is a quality player and can also shift the ball."
Unlocking Ringrose is critical for Ireland. He has been an exceptional player for Ireland but his talent has always outweighed his impact with the ball. Playing in Ireland's style has led to him often just being given the ball and expected to create his own space. That wouldn't be the case with a player such as Frawley inside of him.
This is the caveat. It's not about replacing a bad player in Aki, it's about altering the identity of the team. Aki still has his value and his role in the squad.
"I'm feeling very bad because I'm a great admirer of Bundee Aki, I love the way he plays. But he's a power athlete in my books. I really enjoy him and I really respect him, I'm not talking him down in any way, but it's about getting combinations. It's like a back row, you can't pick three opensides in your back row.
"You've got to have that combination.
"Your 10, 12, 13, it's a mixture together. It's what are the best mixtures that make them work the best. Bundee, when you use him you've got to use him for a specific role and in a specific way. I'm just not sure that Ireland has got that right."
When Ireland played their best rugby at the end of last year's Six Nations, it was with Aki and Henshaw in the center together. They could still return as the starters even with Ringrose healthy. But while Henshaw is absent, it makes sense to try a different combination.
Ultimately, Ireland need to build so they can compete against the best teams in the world at World Cups. This would help them do so, according to Williams.
"At the end of last year's Six Nations, Ireland played great rugby. Against England they were fantastic...so they're not far away. How are you going to win a quarter final? To win a quarter final you've got to beat one of the top four. Playing the way they're going, are they going to beat one of those top four?
"Right now you've got to say percentages are against them. So they've got to make progress in the next two years.
"And that's one way they've got to do it."
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