F
Fushitsusha
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Valentine will have played for every Super 14 province... hopefully he'll hang around at the Brumbies for a bit longer...
Despite BLR's theory they're hording players there will be 2 halfbacks cut from the Brumbies...
Josh Valentine joins Brumbies, Brett Sheehan joins Force from NSW
Brumbies coach Andy Friend believes his 2010 halves combination of Josh Valentine and Matt Giteau could form a scrumbase partnership at the Wallabies this year.
Friend has confirmed reports that Valentine will follow Giteau to Canberra from Western Force next year.
The Australian also reports that New South Wales Waratahs halfback Brett Sheehan will sign a two-year deal to replace Valentine in Perth.
Giteau will be the first player picked for the Wallabies at fly half this year, while Valentine is challenging Luke Burgess for the halfback role.
Valentine has not played for the Wallabies since 2006, but has been in very good form this year, providing Giteau with excellent service.
"I see him (Valentine) as a very talented footballer," Friend said.
"He has a combination with Matt Giteau. I'd be very surprised if they are not close to being the No.9 and No.10 for Australia."
The arrival of Valentine means Friend will release two of the Brumbies' three halfbacks: Josh Holmes, Patrick Phibbs or James Stannard.
While Stannard is the third-string halfback, there is speculation Friend will cut Holmes and Phibbs, who have alternated as the starting No.9 over the past two years. Valentine will be a valuable acquisition for the Brumbies, but it appears fullback Mark Gerrard has played his last game in the nation's capital.
Gerrard aggravated a hamstring injury at training on Monday, and is highly unlikely to return even if the Brumbies reach the Super 14 final in four weeks. He has already decided to play for a Japanese club next season.
"It's disappointing for him," Friend said. "It just went. We should have pulled him off earlier if we had known."
Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper moves to fullback for the crunch match with the Blues in Canberra on Saturday night, with Francis Fainifo returning to the starting line-up on the right wing.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock remains on the left wing as he closes in on becoming Super rugby's leading points scorer. Mortlock did not believe playing away from his traditional outside centre position would adversely affect his Wallabies selection chances.
"I don't have any concerns," Mortlock said. "The selectors pretty much know what everyone is capable of. Last year, Adam Ashley-Cooper ended up playing Test match football at 15. He didn't play much 15 here.
"I've played enough Test matches at 13, and obviously a bit at 12 last year, so they know what I'm capable of.
"I'm just going to make sure I'm contributing as much as I can to the team and play well. If I do that and we get results, those selections in a few months will take care of themselves."
Mortlock is only eight points shy of former Crusaders fly half Andrew Mehrtens' record of 990 points.
"It shows how long he has been playing and how effective he is and what he gives you," Friend said. "He has scored a lot of tries and he is a good goalkicker. You like to have that sort of player in the team.
"There has been a lot of talk about him not playing in his 13 position. I've had a good chat to him and I've spoken to (Wallabies coach) Robbie (Deans). Everyone is fine with it except the people looking for a story."
Tighthead prop Guy Shepherdson's return from a two-week suspension is the only change to the forward pack which started in the 52-13 annihilation of Queensland Reds last Saturday night.
Shepherdson has displaced Salesi Ma'afu, who has started in the No.3 jersey in the past two games.
"It was tough because Salesi has played well," Friend said. "He got better with his second game. The feeling was Shep was the form player for the first nine games. We wanted to give him the opportunity to prove he is the best tighthead."
Julian Salvi has recovered from a syndesmosis injury in his left ankle and will come off the bench, but the rest of the reserves will be finalised later because of an injury cloud over some players.
It is understood Holmes and winger Alfi Mafi are trying to recover from hamstring strains.
Despite BLR's theory they're hording players there will be 2 halfbacks cut from the Brumbies...
Josh Valentine joins Brumbies, Brett Sheehan joins Force from NSW
Brumbies coach Andy Friend believes his 2010 halves combination of Josh Valentine and Matt Giteau could form a scrumbase partnership at the Wallabies this year.
Friend has confirmed reports that Valentine will follow Giteau to Canberra from Western Force next year.
The Australian also reports that New South Wales Waratahs halfback Brett Sheehan will sign a two-year deal to replace Valentine in Perth.
Giteau will be the first player picked for the Wallabies at fly half this year, while Valentine is challenging Luke Burgess for the halfback role.
Valentine has not played for the Wallabies since 2006, but has been in very good form this year, providing Giteau with excellent service.
"I see him (Valentine) as a very talented footballer," Friend said.
"He has a combination with Matt Giteau. I'd be very surprised if they are not close to being the No.9 and No.10 for Australia."
The arrival of Valentine means Friend will release two of the Brumbies' three halfbacks: Josh Holmes, Patrick Phibbs or James Stannard.
While Stannard is the third-string halfback, there is speculation Friend will cut Holmes and Phibbs, who have alternated as the starting No.9 over the past two years. Valentine will be a valuable acquisition for the Brumbies, but it appears fullback Mark Gerrard has played his last game in the nation's capital.
Gerrard aggravated a hamstring injury at training on Monday, and is highly unlikely to return even if the Brumbies reach the Super 14 final in four weeks. He has already decided to play for a Japanese club next season.
"It's disappointing for him," Friend said. "It just went. We should have pulled him off earlier if we had known."
Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper moves to fullback for the crunch match with the Blues in Canberra on Saturday night, with Francis Fainifo returning to the starting line-up on the right wing.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock remains on the left wing as he closes in on becoming Super rugby's leading points scorer. Mortlock did not believe playing away from his traditional outside centre position would adversely affect his Wallabies selection chances.
"I don't have any concerns," Mortlock said. "The selectors pretty much know what everyone is capable of. Last year, Adam Ashley-Cooper ended up playing Test match football at 15. He didn't play much 15 here.
"I've played enough Test matches at 13, and obviously a bit at 12 last year, so they know what I'm capable of.
"I'm just going to make sure I'm contributing as much as I can to the team and play well. If I do that and we get results, those selections in a few months will take care of themselves."
Mortlock is only eight points shy of former Crusaders fly half Andrew Mehrtens' record of 990 points.
"It shows how long he has been playing and how effective he is and what he gives you," Friend said. "He has scored a lot of tries and he is a good goalkicker. You like to have that sort of player in the team.
"There has been a lot of talk about him not playing in his 13 position. I've had a good chat to him and I've spoken to (Wallabies coach) Robbie (Deans). Everyone is fine with it except the people looking for a story."
Tighthead prop Guy Shepherdson's return from a two-week suspension is the only change to the forward pack which started in the 52-13 annihilation of Queensland Reds last Saturday night.
Shepherdson has displaced Salesi Ma'afu, who has started in the No.3 jersey in the past two games.
"It was tough because Salesi has played well," Friend said. "He got better with his second game. The feeling was Shep was the form player for the first nine games. We wanted to give him the opportunity to prove he is the best tighthead."
Julian Salvi has recovered from a syndesmosis injury in his left ankle and will come off the bench, but the rest of the reserves will be finalised later because of an injury cloud over some players.
It is understood Holmes and winger Alfi Mafi are trying to recover from hamstring strains.
