New role for Shane?

Geraghty: Could switch to inside centre

The coaches at Northampton have really made me knuckle down and concentrate on my game and it has definitely paid off

Shane Geraghty
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Shane Geraghty has revealed he would be more than happy to shelve the number 10 jersey and play at inside centre for England in Saturday's showdown against Australia at Twickenham.

Geraghty, who has been named in Martin Johnson's squad for the autumn series and is likely to make his fourth international appearance in the match against the Wallabies, insisted he had no problem moving over to number 12 to make room for Jonny Wilkinson at fly half.

The versatile 23-year-old, who made the move from London Irish to Northampton Saints this summer, also believes that under the guidance of England attack coach Brian Smith he could be crucial in shouldering some of the burden on Wilkinson.

"It depends which way the coaches want you to play," Geraghty told skysports.com.

"Brian Smith leans towards a ball-playing number 12, which can help take a load off the shoulders of the number 10. If you've got someone who can help out, it takes the pressure off.

"I don't have any real preference, although I've been playing a lot at number 10 for Northampton. With Brian Smith you still get the freedom of when you play 10 at number 12.

"Saints are happy for me to play either, so it's good when coaches are open to giving you the option."

Geraghty acknowledged that along with Brian Smith it was a privilege to work under England's head coach Martin Johnson, and he hailed the former lock for his dexterity in handling the team's injury woes.

"With Johnson you can see the passion in his eyes from when he was a player when he talks," said Geraghty.

"He has dealt well with the injury problems and tried to look at it in a positive way and as an opportunity to bring in youngsters that might otherwise not have gotten a chance to play for England."

Ambition

Geraghty also admitted that he would be fulfilling a teenage ambition by playing alongside the talismanic Wilkinson.

"As a teenager I always followed Jonny and dreamt of playing alongside him, so it would be a dream come true really," said Geraghty.

"To represent England with him would be a fantastic opportunity."

After joining Saints earlier this year, Geraghty has put in some impressive displays and believes those have played a major contribution to his inclusion in the England squad.

"I think the Saints move was almost certainly the catalyst for my England call-up," he added.

"The coaches at Northampton have really made me knuckle down and concentrate on my game and it has definitely paid off."

Despite suggestions at the time that money was the motivating factor behind his move, Geraghty is adamant that he joined Saints purely because he needed a fresh challenge.

"London Irish had had a good four and a half to five years and I just felt I needed a change," he said. "I wanted something different and a new challenge in life.

"A few people thought there were other reasons for the move, but I can assure them there weren't, it was just about making that change."

Geraghty admitted, however, that although there was an enticement during that time of uncertainty to follow Wilkinson's lead with a move across the Channel to join a Top 14 team, the timing had not been right for him.

"There was a slight temptation during the time when I was looking for a change," he added.

"I did consider it but I thought, at that time in my career, it wouldn't have been the right choice for me."

The new Nike change kit, to be worn by the England team for the first time against Argentina at Twickenham on November 14, was inspired by the iconic purple track jacket given to players who represented England in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Available to buy from 2 Nov at www.nikestore.com/rugby.