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Giteau half chance to ease crisis
By Peter Jenkins
October 11, 2006
AUSTRALIA sensation Matt Giteau is set to be fast-tracked into the Test halfback role as a crisis grips the national squad in the countdown to next month's tour of Europe.
The Wallabies will be forced to make the trip without their top two scrumbase specialists after Sam Cordingley lost his battle with an ongoing foot injury and was ruled out of the seven-game trek last night to cap a day of injury dramas.
Cordingley will undergo an operation, and he faces up to six months on the sidelines, leaving the halfback stocks thin after veteran Wallabies captain George Gregan announced recently that he was bypassing the trip.
Josh Valentine won the call-up to replace Cordingley, after an extended lay-off, and he will partner Brett Sheehan as the second specialist halfback on tour.
But the spotlight now falls on the planned experimentation of Giteau in the position.
Already earmarked for trials in the No.9 jumper to determine whether he should play there at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Giteau's move is likely to be brought forward to the opening Test against Wales on November 4.
While Cordingley cursed his ill-luck, utility back Drew Mitchell was relieved to learn the jaw fracture he sustained in a head clash with fellow speedster Clyde Rathbone at training yesterday wouldn't stop him leaving with the Wallabies on October 27.
Team doctor Martin Raftery explained that Mitchell's jaw had not been displaced, and it could heal in time for the opening game of the tour, against the Ospreys, on November 1.
Cordingley was not so lucky with the foot problem that has plagued him for much of the season.
"I had to be honest with myself and the team about whether it would be up to the tour," he said.
"I had five weeks of doing nothing to see if it would come good but it's two days back in training and I'm feeling it again.
"It's taken six years to get myself back into the Wallabies and this is tough to take. Once you're here you just don't want to give it up.
"But I know I need the operation."
The push to play Giteau at halfback has moved into overdrive with Cordingley's exit.
But Western Force coach John Mitchell warned national selectors last night that Giteau would not play halfback in the 2007 Super 14, regardless of his performances in Europe.
"We will certainly be playing him at (inside centre) so I guess that's going to create a difficulty if there is a strategy at Wallaby level," he said.
"But that's a problem they're going to have to deal with."
If Giteau shifts to halfback for the Test against Wales, Mat Rogers is set to form a new midfield combination with Lote Tuqiri.
Tuqiri has been training at outside centre in the absence of the injured Stirling Mortlock.
Mark Gerrard is poised to take over from Tuqiri on the wing.
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