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Stirling Mortlock switches to outside centre, marks rising Rob Horne
By Bret Harris
March 10, 2009
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock hopes the move back to his preferred outside centre position will rejuvenate him when the Brumbies host New South Wales in the Super 14 derby at Canberra Stadium.
And Mortlock will need to be on top of his game to fend off the challenge from rising Waratahs No. 13 Rob Horne.
Mortlock played inside centre for the Brumbies in their first three games, but with the exception of the first match against the Highlanders, in which he scored two tries, he has been below his best.
Brumbies coach Andy Friend is expected to reshuffle the malfunctioning Brumbies backline, starting Tyrone Smith at inside centre, moving Mortlock to outside centre, shifting Adam Ashley-Cooper to full-back and switching Mark Gerrard to the wing.
While Friend would not confirm the changes, Mortlock trained at outside centre with Smith on his inside.
"I've felt a little bit off," Mortlock said.
"I probably haven't been that comfortable in our style (of play) which is also probably a reflection of where the team has been at as well.
"We've been pretty direct and probably haven't had enough of an ability to change up our options.
"We haven't gelled enough. Sometimes that takes a bit of time, but also you need to have a better shape in attack and make better decisions. We were probably missing on all fronts."
Friend conceded that Mortlock was better suited to outside centre.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html