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Bret Harris | April 08, 2009
Article from: The Australian
NSW Waratahs will consider recruiting a foreign import for the outside backs if they cannot lure Drew Mitchell or James O'Connor from the Western Force.
The Waratahs are chasing Mitchell as a replacement for fullback Sam Norton-Knight, who is leaving at the end of the season to join Cardiff Blues.
Mitchell is undecided whether to join the Waratahs or go home to Queensland to play for the Reds.
With Mitchell's future unclear, the Waratahs have new interest in O'Connor, who can play five-eighth, inside centre and fullback.
The Force have made O'Connor their No1 priority following Matt Giteau's decision to return to the Brumbies, while the ACT team is also keenly interested in the rising young star.
"We are still waiting on a response from Drew Mitchell," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said. "We'll just give Drew some space to make up his mind.
"All these things are interconnected. It's not just one straight decision. One decision has the potential to impact on other decisions."
Asked if the Waratahs had a plan if they missed out on both Mitchell and O'Connor, Hickey said: "You go through those things in your mind.
"I think Lachie Turner (Waratahs winger) could develop into a terrific fifteen as one option that we could have a look at. We still have that option of a marquee player or a developing overseas player.
"Our preference would be to look within Australia in the first case."
The Waratahs are also sweating on a decision by Brumbies openside flanker George Smith, which could affect the future of NSW captain Phil Waugh.
If Smith re-signs with the ARU and Brumbies as expected, Waugh will probably play overseas because he would not be able to command a big top-up to his contract.
Meanwhile, Norton-Knight is expected to withstand a challenge from Kurtley Beale for the Waratahs' starting fullback position against the Bulls in Sydney on Saturday night. Beale produced a brilliant performance off the bench at fullback against the Stormers in Sydney last Saturday night, while Norton-Knight has struggled in the past couple of games.
"Kurtley came off the bench and gave us exactly what we were looking for," Hickey said. "At this stage I think Sam has performed really well for us.
"There were a few errors in the game on Saturday, but you don't discount players form on a couple of mistakes, not when he has had half-a-dozen strong performances before that."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
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