New twist in Force's Staniforth chase
The Western Force may receive a last-minute reprieve in their bid to re-sign powerhouse runner Scott Staniforth to help ease their injury crisis.
The reported collapse of Staniforth's Japanese club Yokogawa means any contract would be void and the 2006 Force player-of-the year would become a free agent.
The Australian Rugby Union would have to lift the block imposed this week that prevented the Force signing Staniforth on a short-term contract.
They are likely to want a commitment from the 12-times capped Wallaby that he would make himself available for Australia before agreeing.
Yokogawa apparent demise could have another benefit for the Force - a fly-half to replace their injured marquee player, former Springbok Andre Pretorius.
Former Australian U-19 playmaker, Queenslander Matt Brandon, was also contracted with the Japanese second division side and will be looking for a new club.
The Force considered recruiting Brandon two years ago and he had discussions with the Reds about returning to Queensland last year but chose to stay in Japan.
Force officials were last night monitoring the situation and waiting for confirmation of the club's closure.
The Force missed out on another replacement for Pretorius after English playmaker Andy Goode was snapped up by the Sharks after being released by French club Brive.
A Force spokesman confirmed they had been interested in Goode, 29, the former Leicester pivot who has 17 England caps but he has gone to the Durban club on a short-term contract before returning to England to play for Worcester in the English Guinness Premiership next season.
The Sharks were also desperate for a fly-half having lost Argentinean Juan Martín Hernández for the season with a back injury and Steve Meyer, who unexpectedly announced his retirement.
The Force are not interested in chasing the signature of former NSW playmaker Shaun Berne, who is playing with Irish club Leinster, but it is understood they are keen to talk to 23-year-old Waratahs junior and Manly fullback Adam D'Arcy, who had a three-month trial in Perth last season.
Meanwhile, teenage star James O'Connor will be shouldering a massive responsibility when the undermanned Force take on the Hurricanes in Wellington this afternoon.
The young Wallaby will start the game with No 15 on his back but will double up and move into the backline as a playmaker.
Coach John Mitchell will play the talented 19-year-old at fullback when his side are defending but, as he has done several times since his 2008 debut, will switch him to fly-half or inside centre when on attack.
This will push backline players out one spot with former Australian U-20 fullback Dane Haylett-Petty moving to the last line of defence and centre Josh Tatupu covering his vacant wing.
The move has been forced on Mitchell by last week's failed experiment of using Sam Harris at fly-half, a position he had never played in Super rugby before the first round loss to the ACT Brumbies.
Canes second row Jason Eaton has been dropped after a complaint about his behaviour in a bar and winger Hosea Gear is out after having an operation on cruciate ligament tear.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...niforth-chase/
