Cross should be on ARU's mind: Mitchell
March 23, 2008 - 12:21PM
Western Force coach John Mitchell has urged the Australian Rugby Union to recognise centre Ryan Cross' sparkling form as he looms large in Wallabies contention.
The rugby league convert turned in another eye-catching performance to boost the Force's push for the Super 14 semi-finals and he seems certain to figure in new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans's selection planning.
Cross's development in his second season back in union has mirrored that of the Force, turning last year's solid play into the spectacular, with regular line breaks and stout defence.
Two man-of-the-match displays in the first six rounds, and another try in Saturday's 36-28 win over the Highlanders, are believed to have caught the eye of ARU bosses, who are weighing up an offer to top-up to Cross' contract.
And Mitchell has backed the suggestion.
"He has adjusted to the game well, after last year having to adapt and adopt new methods," Mitchell said.
"He's playing very well. He's very comfortable with union and I hope the ARU recognise that.
"They need to make sure they are deliberating on him and where he stands."
The Force flew home on Sunday ensconced in the competition top four after a fourth away win in the first six weeks which has seen them play at home only once.
"We are pleased to get the two results but still have some issues with the way we played which we weren't totally happy with," Mitchell said.
"We were probably lucky in some respects, but you have got to score more points than them and we did that.
"We have had a fair bit of travel, and three pretty hard games in a row. So credit to the group and the management of the group during this part of the trip.
"To end up four out of six coming into the home leg, we would have taken that."
While the result fell the Force's way, the performance of referee Mark Lawrence was still on Mitchell's mind - with Scott Staniforth's disallowed try in the second half still bemusing player and staff in the postscript.
After a pinpoint cross kick from Matt Giteau, Staniforth's run and lunge looked to have given the Force the lead, until Lawrence ruled the winger had performed a double movement - despite replays indicating he wasn't held in a tackle.
Mitchell said while it did not affect the match outcome, the decision may still have ramifications.
"Hopefully that does not become costly when we get to the end of the round robin," Mitchell said.
"We missed out on a (four try) bonus point yesterday which was very much there for the taking, but you have just got to ride those situations."
Staniforth said his urgings to Lawrence to check a video replay had gone unheeded.
"I asked two or three times if he was going to go upstairs, but he wasn't having a bar of it. He just told me to go back to my wing," Staniforth said.
As well as the Stormers at Subiaco on Friday, Force bosses will also have longer term planning in mind, with Cameron Shepherd's future in Perth to be discussed this week.
While the fullback has said he is happy in Perth, and the ARU component of his new contract is agreed, interest from the Brumbies following the shock diagnosis of Julian Huxley's brain tumour has given the 23-year old Wallaby another option.
http://news.rugbyheaven.com.au/cross...0323-212n.html
