Is andrew Sheridan a Prop?

Question

Yes he is, but that's not what I mean. He is 6"5 and one of the tallest props around, but is he too tall? I saw Tonga Lea'aetoa, who is 6"1, consistently out-scrumage him when London Irish played Sale. Sheridan's power is awesome, his play in the open field is good and he is a good ball carrier who can make the hard yards.

But perhaps he should be played at number 8.

What do you think people, no one can deny that he is good, but is he a prop?

Answer 1

He is definitely a prop

Answer 2

i think second row. i think he doesnt have the pace to be a number 8. he is a top player and i am glad he is at sale

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

With the new crouch touch engage laws..i read somewhere that tall props are at a extreme disadvantage..regarding the laws of physics etc...and shorter compacter props can do a lot more damage....with their lower centre of gravity...and use this to their advantage..but having said that ..it is said that when andy sheriden bench presses the whole planet actually moves up and down. so I think the laws of physics are offset by this fact.. in this particular case.

Answer 5

He actually started out his career as a 2nd row forward. Alas he club he was at (Bristol I think) couldn't find anyone to partner him as it was making the scrum 'lob-sided'. They could also not find two people that could lift him in the line out and this limited the options in that areas

He was then moved to back row where he made a great ball carrier but his movement around the park was limited by his weight.

Hence they tried him at prop which I think is his best position. He has only played it for a couple of seasons and so is still learning some of the little tricks of the trade of front row play!

Answer 6

There is no way Andrew Sheridan is fast enough to play back row so there's that out of the window.

But listen, he's only two inches taller than Carl Hayman who is considered the finest prop in the world. Andrew Sheridan is probably the second finest so just leave it at that OK.

Answer 7

I think that in the modern day game coaches are looking for as many line breaking players as possible due to defences being so tight.  So due to that having Sheri playing at prop gives you another ball carrying option.  His strength is immense but a good tight head will use this against him.  I saw him go against Julian White of Leicester and he didn't win that one.  His scrum is getting better but I think you are born to prop, and technique takes years of batterings before mastering the black art of propping.

Answer 8

I'm of the other opinion. I think prop is his best position. In his poition his main intention is to hold the scrum as steady as possible and if he can disrupt the other front row then thats a bonus. With his sheer size and strength differnce between all others in the front row he forces the oponents to loose their tight bind that holds them together. I think he is coplimented by a similar height team member on the loose head side, therefore leaving the hooker free to strike for the ball.

Answer 9

Its up to his coach in the end. Tonga Lea'aetoa is a good prop and so is Hayman. I think Sheridan could be too slow to be No. 8. Prop is his best position. He just needs to keep improving his technique.

At the end of the day, its about technique as well as strength.

Answer 10

yeah he's a prop.  To be honest, he's too big and slow to play anywhere else but in the front row.  As mentioned above, he's only a few inches taller than Carl Hayman, so his height really ins't a disadvantage.  I would argue that while he's a great loosehead prop, he's not the greatest.  that fellow Roncero from Argentina is much better.

Answer 11

Sorry, I'm a 15year-old french so my english isn't perfect...

Yes he plays left prop and he is the Carl Hayman of the left side. He don't play as a loose forward because he's the best left prop in the world, and i don't thinck he's faster as a lock or a number8.

Answer 12

i agree. Sale should play him in second row.