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Thread: Tahs soon to decide between Cross, Staniforth

  1. #1
    Senior Player Hoolly Doolly's Avatar
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    Tahs soon to decide between Cross, Staniforth

    Tahs soon to decide between Cross, Staniforth RUPERT GUINNESS
    June 22, 2010
    .WALLABIES centre Ryan Cross and former Test player Scott Staniforth are vying for a sole vacancy in the Waratahs back line next season. The Herald has learnt that the Western Force teammates have been in negotiations with the NSW Rugby Union for some time about a move east.

    It is expected that an announcement on which utility back NSW choose will be made in the next few days. The Waratahs also have a vacancy in the forwards - most probably for a second-rower - but that is not likely to be filled for several weeks as they continue their search for the right player.

    The Waratahs will again have a 30-player roster, but with the Super competition to expand to 15 teams and to last longer, players need to cover more than one position.

    Cross and Staniforth, who is also understood to be of interest to the Brumbies, have been offered new deals with the Force, as has outside back Cameron Shepherd. Shepherd is also in negotiations with the Melbourne Rebels.

    Waratahs coach Chris Hickey yesterday confirmed that Cross - who is not in the Wallabies squad for Saturday's Test against Ireland in Brisbane - and Staniforth were both strong options.

    Hickey said NSW had not spoken to Shepherd because the Waratahs wanted to sign someone who could play both in the centres and on the wing, ''whereas Cam is more of a wing or fullback''.

    He added that keeping Kiwi Sosene Anesi as the Waratahs marquee player was still an option, although the one-Test All Black is more of an outside back and lacks a kicking game.

    Asked about Cross and Staniforth, Hickey said: ''We have still got probably two positions to fill. One of them will probably be a utility back centre. We have spoken to two or three people and Scott is one of those people.

    ''We have spoken with Ryan Cross as well. They are both good players with quite a lot to offer, particularly with their experience. And both are versatile players.

    ''We would hope by the end of this week that we will have an answer from some of those [shortlisted] about where they see their future being.

    ''If we could secure one of those two players it would certainly give us good depth to what is going to be a longer season next year.''

    Hickey also sensed that Cross, a 20-Test back, wanted to resurrect his Wallabies career, and thought that playing for the Waratahs could help this aim.

    A move to Sydney would also signify a return home for the former Sydney Roosters back, who grew up in Waverley.

    Cross, 30, offers a little more youthfulness than does the 32-year-old Staniforth, whose Super career was resurrected when he returned from Japan to play for the Force on a short-term deal this year. However, after excelling on the field, he was offered a full-time contract for next year.

    ''He's a little younger than Scotty and he still has ambitions to play for Australia,'' Hickey said.

    In Staniforth's favour, however, is his links to Hickey at Eastwood.

    ''We have known each other for quite a length of time,'' Hickey said.

    The 12-Test Staniforth is also a former Waratah, having earned 61 caps for NSW between 1997 and 2004, when he left to play for the London Irish club and then headed to Japan.

    http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...0621-yscj.html

    ---------- Post added at 00:58 ---------- Previous post was at 00:53 ----------

    Wow......dunno what cross is thinking?!?!?! Going to the tahs to try make the wallabies squad.............must be taking a punt that Horne will get injured again.......if it doesnt happen he could find himself warming the bench for long periods.

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    (a.k.a. Mr Pinkbits) Stone Cold's Avatar
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    How is Cross a "utility back"? He plays outside centre and maybe inside centre if he doesn't need to kick. Spanner can play everywhere from 11-15 - an actual utility.

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    coz Stone Cold says so

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    Legend Contributor blueandblack's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stone Cold View Post
    ...Spanner can play everywhere from 11-15 - an actual utility.
    and I hope we can keep him here

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    Champion Tazzmania's Avatar
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    Another article from the East that makes no sense, how is Cross going to improve his Wallaby chances warming the bench behind Carter and Horne in the centres, both Warratah incumbents unlikley to be dropped unless injuries happen, surley Cross has more chance starting with us and pushing for a place. He may even have to contend with Barnes in the centres, if Halhangue goes back to starting flyhalf.

    If he is off I bet its oversseas, hopefully he will stick around a year or two to give Inman time to develop on a good base

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    well, i think sometimes a change aof pace is just what you need to excel (unfortunately, look at mitchell... new haircut etc). thoguh your right, warming the bench does not help at all...

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