David Pocock is likely to remain with the Western Force
David Pocock is likely to remain with the Western Force
WALLABIES openside flanker David Pocock is expected to reject an approach from the Melbourne Rebels, while former Test captain Stirling Mortlock's move to Victoria is now believed to be uncertain.
But there is strong speculation the Rebels have reached an agreement with controversial former England flanker Michael Lipman.
Pocock and Mortlock were two of the five high-profile Wallabies on the Rebels' hit-list. The others were playmaker Berrick Barnes, loosehead prop Benn Robinson and winger Peter Hynes.
It is understood Pocock will tell the Rebels he will not be joining the Super 15 expansion franchise next year.
Pocock is likely to remain at the Western Force, although the Brumbies are looking for a replacement for departing number seven George Smith.
Mortlock has been strongly linked with the Rebels because of his association with Melbourne head coach Rod Macqueen, who coached him previously with the Wallabies.
But while Mortlock is believed to be considering an offer from an overseas club, there is an internal debate at the Rebels over the length of the contract they have offered him.
The Rebels have offered the 33-year-old Mortlock a three-year contract, which would see him finish the deal at 36 years of age.
While Macqueen is believed to be keen to recruit Mortlock to help lay the foundation for the team, there is another view that the Rebels would be better off chasing rugby league convert Mark Gasnier or a younger centre.
The Rebels have so far only signed one player, former England five-eighth Danny Cipriani. But an informed source told The Australian yesterday that the Rebels have reached an agreement with Lipman, who grew up in Sydney and was once contracted to NSW Waratahs.
Lipman resigned from English club Bath in controversial circumstances last June amid allegations of refusing to take drug tests and was banned for nine months.
The Rebels are also believed to have come to terms with NSW academy winger Peter Betham.
The Rebels are also chasing NSW duo, five-eighth Daniel Halangahu and second-rower David Dennis, who will start against the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday.
Halangahu and Dennis have strong connections with the Rebels through their club Sydney University. The Rebels' backs coach, Damien Hill, coached Halangahu and Dennis at Sydney University, while Melbourne's rugby manager Greg Harris was the former director of the university's sports department.
Now that they are starting, Halangahu and Dennis are in stronger bargaining positions.
If Barnes decides to stay with the Waratahs, Halangahu would be an even more valuable acquisition for the Rebels.
Cipriani can play inside centre and fullback, which means the Rebels could offer Halangahu the starting five-eighth role. But Halangahu has the opportunity to re-establish himself as the Waratahs' chief playmaker. If he did, there would be less incentive for him to leave Sydney.
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