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Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock would like to meet new Australian coach Robbie Deans as soon as possible to discuss his future - and that of the national squad.
The World Cup and Brumbies skipper is yet to re-sign with the Australian Rugby Union, and is considering a reported $1.25 million-a-season, three-year deal from a Japanese club. But Mortlock, 30, told the Herald last night he wanted to speak with Deans one-on-one about the New Zealander's vision for the Wallabies and his own status before making a decision.
Deans is in Sydney for tomorrow night's Super 14 trial at the Sydney Football Stadium between the NSW Waratahs and the Crusaders.
"The plan was to catch up over the next few days," said Mortlock, who is undergoing rehabilitation for a shoulder reconstruction and will miss the first half of the Super 14. "It is something we had pencilled in to arrange with [Wallabies manager] Phil Thomson.
"I would like to chat with Robbie about a lot of things. I would like to talk to him about his plans for the team, to get an insight and to use that as the starting point for talks from a Wallabies' perspective. But I also would like to learn his mindset on points about me. If I can do it or not, I don't know. I realise he is very busy and only has a few days here."
Mortlock, who has also received offers from several European clubs, said he had heard the ARU's position on his value through its high-performance manager, Pat Howard. But he said "it would be good to do that face to face" with Deans.
Deans yesterday said he never became involved in the contractual side of player negotiations.
"The key thing from a coach's perspective is to know that the blokes who are there want to be there," Deans said.
However, if a player coming off-contract wanted to discuss their future, he said he would be willing to talk with them if they felt it was a vital in helping them to reach a decision.
"I am more than happy to, if the players initiate it c if they are seeking some form of assistance in getting to a position of clarity themselves, that is as good as gold," he said.
Asked if he would be open to meeting Wallabies such as Mortlock, or NSW back-rowers Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu - who are off contract at the end of this season - Deans said: "Pat Howard has my contact details. If there is a player who is contemplating their future [and] felt that my stance was a critical component of that, then I would welcome that call.
"But it is not for me c to go chasing them prior to that point. Players will make decisions and they will make them for their own reasons. It is not for me to impose my will."
Julian Huxley is more than happy to revert to fullback if exciting youngster Christian Lealiifano shows he's ready to take over Steve Larkham's playmaker role for the Brumbies, AAP reports.
Coach Laurie Fisher plans to give Huxley and Lealiifano half a game each at five-eighth in the final trial match against the Hurricanes in New Zealand on Friday. He must then decide who goes up against All Blacks No.10 Dan Carter when the Brumbies face the Crusaders in their Super 14 season opener in Christchurch on Friday week.
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher yesterday named eight Wallabies in a 26-man squad with captain George Smith, Stephen Hoiles, Huxley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Mark Gerrard all set to take the field for the first time since last year's World Cup. Fisher said Lealiifano impressed against the Waratahs but admitted he was still to be fully tested in the heat of professional rugby and he was unsure who would take the five-eighth role so long filled by Wallabies great Larkham.
"I try to keep as open a mind as possible and give the maximum opportunity to perform," Fisher said. "They're all quality footballers so it's important that they feel as though they've been given maximum opportunity to press for starting positions. I think that we need to make sure that their mind is settled."