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Matt Giteau stunner fails for Western Force
Wayne Smith | March 16, 2009
Article from: The Australian
WHERE would the Western Force be without Matt Giteau?
Sadly, from a Perth perspective, that question will be answered soon enough, when the gifted Wallabies playmaker packs up his kitbag at the end of the Super 14 season and heads back to his family home in Canberra to rejoin the Brumbies.
For the moment, however, it's a question worth dwelling on, because the evidence of Saturday's 23-all draw against the Crusaders, the second such scoreline between those sides in the past four years, is that without Giteau the Force would be in freefall towards the bottom of the table.
Instead it remains tenuously in touch with the top four, even if placed in ninth position, one rung above the Reds.
Giteau's stunning display of individual brilliance to carve up the Crusaders' midfield defence for a match-turning try to winger Haig Sare sparked the Force's second-half revival after it went to the break trailing 20-6.
t could easily have been 29-6 and game over had Crusaders kicker Stephen Brett not missed two goals from close to point-blank range.
Force coach John Mitchell was intent on spreading the praise around on his return to Perth yesterday, insisting Giteau's second-half heroics would not have been possible had the forwards not pressed the fast-forward button on ball delivery.
"If you can build pressure through quicker ball delivery, any side can be penetrated," Mitchell said. "Our ball delivery quickened up as the match wore on. I thought the way the guys kept going at them was fantastic."
Mitchell also commended the brave display of 18-year-old Wallaby James O'Connor who revelled in the second-half fightback. "He has a lot to learn but he has some gifts and some confidence. He certainly loves a tackle," Mitchell said.
Ironically, Giteau should have had a 78th minute chance to win the match for the Force after he was almost knocked out by an apparent late shoulder charge to the head by Crusaders defender Owen Franks. Had referee Marius Jonker or the assistant referees spotted the infringement, a groggy Giteau would have taken a penalty goal shot.
The incident went undetected until spotted by the citing commissioner, who has ordered Franks to front a SANZAR judicial officer in Christchurch today, too late to rescue the Force from a draw that left both teams feeling both relieved and frustrated.
Still, the Force did complete a difficult three-match road trip with seven competition points out of a maximum of 15 on offer, a return most sides would accept from away fixtures against the Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders.
Yet it is the home fixtures at Subiaco Oval, particularly those immediately following a tour abroad that traditionally bring the Force undone. Last year, for example, the Force had a dream visit to New Zealand, beating the Blues and the Highlanders but on returning to Perth promptly spoiled captain Nathan Sharpe's 100th Super rugby appearance by losing 32-16 to the Stormers.
"We've done that a couple of times, coming back from road trips and not being mentally focused enough," Mitchell said.
It was a bruised and battered Force side that landed in Perth yesterday, with wingers Cameron Shepherd (ankle), Nick Cummins (hamstring) and prop Ben Castle (neck-shoulder) the players causing most concern.
However, Test number eight Richard Brown is expected to return from his AC shoulder problem while injury-hit World Cup backline utility Scott Staniforth is also back in the selection frame.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html