Force Backline for next year 2007

[O'Regan]

Well seeing as you have new players signed what will be your backline next year?

[travelling_gerry]

Its a secret.........see on the 2nd Feb....

[RugbyFan]

9. Matt Henjak
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Drew Mitchell/Cameron Shepherd
12. Matt Giteau
13. Ryan Cross
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Cameron Shepherd/Drew Mitchell
20. Chris O'Young
21. Lachlan Mackay
22. Digby Ioane

[travelling_gerry]

good one RF...now you will have to kill him......

[Burgs]

I think the selection and outcome of this next Test may have some weight in the final line up next season.
I think RF's is the "obvious" backline which Mitch probably has penciled in at the moment.
However: Henjak has never "won a game" from #9, where as Giteau has the potential to do that and we get perhaps the last look at that on the weekend til the Tri Nations, if Mitch is determined to stick to his guns. I haven't seen it before with Mitch at the Force but I hope a clash of the ego's with Knuckles doesn't over-rule what may have been a inspired selection if allowed some persistence.
If you look through the Force tries clip it is obvious that Staniforth would be a wasted resource tying down a Wing.
I am confident we will see more evidence of that if he get's a chance to start at #12 this weekend.
I believe that Gits is the more skillful player but I also believe that Stanners is actually the better Inside Centre as he is very close to Gits' instinct and agility but he also brings power and a thumping tackle which can be a little suss in Gits' game.
To have a balance between flair and defence I think we will see an evolvement of-
"Unit 1" 9. Giteau, 10. Hilgendorf, 12. Staniforth and
"Unit 2" 9. Henjak, 10. MacKay, 12. Giteau.
I would go as far as to make them majority train that way with an injection into the match at the 55 minute mark of "Unit 2" if there has been no injuries.
I believe Cross will begin the season on the bench and have to earn his stripes.
To be perfectly honest, I kind of wish that we hadn't got him as there is now an expectation that he will play which will come at the expense of match time for the likes of Ioane, Sare, Pelesasa, Daruda etc.
Injuries will obviously play a part but we have a few very handy backs not on the bench selection who may start getting itchy feet if they don't get the same match time as '06.
Even though Mitchell came West "to play Fullback" I think Shepherd will fill that role with a superior boot and excellent match awareness.
So, in answer to your question O'Regan, RF's probably close to what we will see but MY selection would be:

Start with-

9. Giteau
10. Hilgendorf
11. Ioane
12. Staniforth
13. Cross
14. Mitchell
15. Shepherd
20. Henjak
21. MacKay
22. Pelesasa

55 minutes-

9. Henjak
10. MacKay
11. Ioane/Pelesasa
12. Giteau
13. Cross/Pelesasa
14. Mitchell/Pelesasa
15. Shepherd/Mitchell

[James]

Short of injuries I figure this will be the starting combination:

9 Henjak
10 Hilgendorf
11 Ioane
12 Staniforth
13 Pelesasa
14 Drew Mitchell
15 Cameron Shepherd

With:
20 O'Young for 9
21 Giteau for 10/12
22 Cross for 11/13/14

However chances are (knowing our luck- knock on wood) that one of our three fly halves will be out injured and one of the wings/outside centre will too. I very much doubt Mitch will rush the new recruits into the side.

[O'Regan]

Ok i think you guys will win it next year, i should go for you guys seeing im from WA but i go for the brumbies.

[James]

How cool would it be if we had say 16 McIssac (for Prop/Hooker cover) 17 Luke Doherty (as a super 4/5/6/7/8 or something) cover and 5 bench spots for the backline where you have like the starting line-up play for 55 minutes and focus on playing percentage and strong defense then bash out 5 backs as the attacking team who use a whole new game plan and have really fresh legs. I don't know- it may sound silly but I think it'd be fun.

[Shaun]

Burgs you buying into Giteau at 9 I see... to me he MUST play at inside center, Henjak is a good player and will do great at halfback. Giteau is best suited to Inside, hopefully Mitchell thinks so as well...

[blindsid3]

Burgs you buying into Giteau at 9 I see... to me he MUST play at inside center, Henjak is a good player and will do great at halfback. Giteau is best suited to Inside, hopefully Mitchell thinks so as well...

I'm with you there, Shaun. Mitchell has categorically stated that he will not be playing Giteau at 9 and the man should be taken at his word.

He "Has Faith" in Henjak and so should we...

[Burgs]

Categorical statements tend to smack of battles of the ego to me fellas, more the domain of chatsites than of constructive Coaching.
To totally disregard what has been demonstrated on Tour by a fellow International Coach would be both arrogant and dissapointing.
The critical points to me are: I believe Stanners is a better one on one option than Giteau in the #12 jersey and would be an absolute waste on the Wing.
I believe Giteau has more potential to turn a match from Scrum Half than Henjak.
As I mentioned, I expect that Rugby Fans lineup is what we will actually see, a safe and obvious combination.
But, as they say, opinions are like ar*eholes, everyone has one!