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Wayne Smith | April 06, 2009
Article from: The Australian
THE Western Force is set to widen its search for Matt Giteau's replacement by sounding out Queensland and NSW five-eighths Berrick Barnes and Daniel Halangahu.
Force chief executive Greg Harris said yesterday he had not spoken to either player yet, but is adamant he will not be caught short if he misses his primary target, Peter Grant, the Springbok and Stormers playmaker.
Grant, whose parents have moved to Perth from South Africa, last week issued a carefully measured denial of media reports that he was set to follow them to WA. But it was difficult to tell whether he truly intends to reject the Force offer or is merely keeping his options open in a season when he still would hope to figure in the Boks' three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
"It (finding a new five-eighth) is not something I want to do in haste," Harris said. "So a Daniel Halangahu would have to figure in anyone's consideration, as would a Berrick Barnes."
On the evidence of last Friday night's clash with the Reds at Subiaco Oval, the Force already has an outstanding Giteau substitute, 18-year-old James O'Connor. The trouble is he is unsure he wants to shoulder the responsibility of steering the team just yet and, besides, there is no guarantee he will not follow Giteau to the Brumbies for 2010.
Force captain Nathan Sharpe was singing the praises of all his players after the runaway 39-7 victory - the most points the Perth club has scored against another Australian team. But he was especially delighted with the way inside centre O'Connor stamped his authority on the game.
"He was superb for us," Sharpe said. "He took control of the situation and didn't wait for 'Gits' to make all the moves."
Sharpe summed up proceedings astutely in crediting the entire Force squad for the season-saving win. While the Force back-row blotted out the Reds' loose forwards, it wasn't just Richard Brown, David Pocock and the late blooming Matt Hodgson who did the damage at the breakdown. Just about every Force player was responsible for at least one turnover.
After studying the Hurricanes' spirited performance against the Sharks in Durban early yesterday (AEST), Force coach John Mitchell is adamant his side must front up again at the breakdown at Subiaco on Friday night.
"The breakdown battle in Durban was, how shall I put this, intense," Mitchell said. "It was not for the faint-hearted. It was bloody physical."
The Force edged up to 10th place, six points adrift of the top four but has only played seven matches whereas four of the top five teams, the Sharks, Chiefs, Waratahs and Crusaders have yet to sit out their bye.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html