Valentine bound for Brumbies

[jono]

do what you want.
but how often to we blast articles because they are dodgy? go back and read the first page of this thread, in 10 seconds i re-read that laura and bb questioned it's validity. the validity of the article is what i was talking about. i didnt mention anyones sources.

[force addict]

yes i read it. but it isnt confirmed. your sauces can be as reliable as they want to be. but until it's announced it isnt official.

are we as bad as the SMH?

i didnt mention anyones sources.

yes u did

[jono]

what was the overall context of the post fa.

[force addict]

just pointing out ur contradiction

[tragic]

Sauces, schmauses. Until the SMH's Chief Rugby Correspondent writes it, it simply cannot be.

[Darren]

True, true - the SMH's Chief Rugby Correspondent knows all - he just enjoys fucking with us mere mortals ...

[travelling_gerry]

Wayne Smith | May 05, 2009

Article from: The Australian

FORMER Wallabies halfback Josh Valentine may have played his last match for the Western Force after being cited to appear before a SANZAR judiciary today in Cape Town.

Any suspension beyond one match that Valentine might receive for his allegedly dangerous tackle on Bulls' Springbok halfback Fourie du Preez in his side's 32-29 loss to the Pretoria team almost certainly will mean the end of his career with the Force.

Indications are Valentine intends following his Perth halves partner Matt Giteau to the Brumbies next season, although there were reports yesterday the Force had launched one last effort to persuade him to remain in Perth.

If those efforts succeed, it could stop the Force's recruitment of Waratahs halfback Brett Sheehan. If not, it appears Sheehan's switch to the west coast is a done deal.

Valentine's move to Canberra would complicate an already tricky situation for Brumbies coach Andy Friend, who over the next week intends to trim one of his three halfbacks, Patrick Phibbs, Josh Holmes or James Stannard, from his squad.

Stannard, a recruit from the Force, is the player seemingly most in danger, although nothing is certain as Phibbs and Holmes have alternated as the Brumbies' starting halfback this season and neither player has come close to nailing down a permanent spot.

The Reds, meanwhile, have begun learning to live without their senior halfback after Will Genia underwent surgery yesterday to reattach a severed tendon to his finger. The tendon had retracted into his palm and the estimated time Genia will face on the sidelines has been upgraded from possibly four months to five.

"Will could actually have played on Friday (against the Crusaders in Christchurch) because apparently it's the sort of injury that can heal quickly all by itself," said Reds coach Phil Mooney.

"But it would have meant he had a bent hand for the rest of his life, so that was never an option."

Genia's injury means a $55,000 windfall for 23-year-old Brothers halfback Brendan McKibbin, who comes into the Reds squad for the game in Christchurch. Under the competition rules, any player used in the match 22 for four Super rugby matches goes on to a minimum contract and McKibbin now qualifies for an unscheduled payday after earlier having deputised for Genia when he was serving a suspension.

The question is whether McKibbin sits on the bench as a reserve, with Ben Lucas shifting into halfback and Quade Cooper officially starting at five-eighth, or whether all three will start, with Lucas again deputising at 10, just as he did in the second half against the Brumbies. Still, the fact that Mooney has put another halfback, Richard Kingi, on standby points to Lucas once again assuming the playmaker role.

It still is far from clear whether Berrick Barnes will be fit to play after he strained his groin muscle in the warm-up before the Brumbies match. But he is only one of several players under a fitness cloud. Mooney is not likely to have any idea before training this afternoon whether his other injured players, skipper James Horwill, centre Digby Ioane and fullback Mark McLinden, will be given the all-clear. All are highly unlikely to play, while winger Peter Hynes is scheduled for a scan today on his thrice-injured knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the Super 14.

With so many senior players out of action, hooker Sean Hardman - whose milestone achievement in becoming Queensland's most capped player was soiled by the Reds' capitulation to the Brumbies - is poised to assume the captaincy.

Indications are he will have a new loosehead packing down beside him as Greg Holmes is expected to pay the price for his indifferent game against the ACT by making way for talented young understudy Ben Daley.

The Reds were widely criticised for a lack of spirit against the Brumbies, but openside flanker Putasi Luafutu deserves commendation for raising his fractured hand and volunteering to play on Friday. What makes that especially commendable is that he almost certainly will be marking All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who is expected to return against the Reds from a slight head knock.

Mooney might be clutching at straws but he is pleased McCaw is a likely starter. "The theory is that if he plays, the other Crusaders don't try as hard," he quipped.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[blueandblack]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=139968

"5th May 2009, 16:00 WST

Western Force scrum-half Josh Valentine has told team-mates he intends to join Matt Giteau at the ACT Brumbies next year.

His departure clears the way for the Force to recruit Waratahs No.9 Brett Sheehan, whose move to Perth could be confirmed by the end of the week.

Valentine, who faces a Super 14 tribunal in Cape Town later today, has verbally accepted a two-year deal with the Brumbies although he has not yet signed.

He indicated he would move to extend his half-back partnership with Matt Giteau. He felt playing alongside Test fly-half Giteau was his best chance of returning to the Wallabies team."

A little more at the link above.

[laura]

Still no quotes...how hard is it for journos to put some effort in and get a quote?!

[prop53]

Wait till he signs then beleive, i think thats the way to go?

[inactive]

I think he and O'Connor will unfortunately be going to the Brumbies which means we better have some damn good signings. At least we still have Crossy and Sheps...cummo will step up big time next year.

[travelling_gerry]

Brumbies have to get rid of a few then.

Dumped players from one club make for very committed players at a new club.

[slomo]

Main game....JO'C going?...not yet...

[inactive]

I just reckon he will follow as he wants to be with the best person inside him which will be gits- suppose it depends if Valo goes will they have the money?

[force addict]

i dont see how the brumbies are going to cope with a new scrummy, unless Valo gets the starting spot and then chucky/phibbs/holmes are on the bench or cut from the team