IF Sale Sharks are to get the best out of new recruit Matthew Tait, they need to decide where his long-term playing position lies.

That's the blunt assessment of World Cup winner Will Greenwood.

The England and British Lions legend says in recruiting Tait from Newcastle Falcons, Sale have made one of the most significant Guinness Premiership moves of the summer.

But Greenwood is adamant that in order to fully flourish, the 22-year old needs to determine once and for all his ideal role in the team.

Despite his tender age, Tait has already accumulated 24 caps but in doing so, he has gained a reputation for being England's flexible friend, having see-sawed between outside-centre, wing and full-back in his domestic and international career to date.

"Having made the move to Sale, I think the best thing that can happen to Matthew Tait now is for him to settle in one position," Greenwood, a famed outside-centre himself, insists.

"Whether that is at full-back or outside centre is obviously an issue for Matthew and the club but I think he needs to settle on one or the other.

"The constant dithering and moving that has accompanied his career to date has made it very difficult for anyone to become a huge fan of his as you are never quite sure of what you are supporting him at.

"So far in his career, Matthew's come and gone and come and gone and it's been riddled with indecision.

"I'm sure that the new England supremo Martin Johnson will have had a chat with him and suggested to him `Pick your spot and I'll judge you on that position.'

"I disagreed wholeheartedly with Newcastle's view that it doesn't matter what number you have got on the back of your shirt.

"Of course, you have got to be multi-skilled but there are vast differences between playing at outside centre or at full-back.

"To be frank, I don't seen him being one of the world's great distributors - instead I see Matthew more as an outside arc man as well as a gifted broken-field runner.

"And by moving to Edgeley Park, he's now got the opportunity to play outside two of the best passers in the Premiership in Charlie Hodgson and Luke McAlister as well as having the chance to work with great finishers such as Mark Cueto."

WILL Greenwood is an ambassador of the Heineken 10s series festivals, one of which takes places at Aspatria RUFC on November 22.

For more information and to register for the festivals, log on to www.heinekenrugby.co.uk or email heineken10s@fstrk.com.


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