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Bret Harris | May 02, 2009
Article from: The Australian
WESTERN Force halfback Josh Valentine is poised to join the Brumbies to continue his successful halves combination with Wallabies five-eighth Matt Giteau in the Super 14 next year.
The inside-back combination of Valentine, Giteau and James O'Connor is one of the main reasons the Force is playing so well at the back end of the season.
But Giteau will be at the Brumbies next year and O'Connor is still to decide whether to remain in Perth or go to Canberra.
If Valentine has ambitions to build on the four Test caps he earned in 2006, a move to Canberra to continue playing with Giteau would be a smart move.
While Valentine does not run as much as he did before a knee injury put him out of action for a year, he still has the best pass of any halfback in Australia. Even though he is on the Waratahs' bench, Luke Burgess remains the favourite for the Wallabies number nine jersey, but the race is quite open.
Valentine would certainly enhance his Test selection prospects by continuing his combination with Giteau, who clearly appreciates his bullet-like service.
The Brumbies have chopped and changed Josh Holmes and Patrick Phibbs at halfback for two years, but Valentine would give them scrum-base stability.
A decision by Valentine to move to Canberra would result in the Force intensifying its efforts to recruit NSW halfback Brett Sheehan, who has ousted Burgess from the starting role at NSW.
The loss of both Giteau and Valentine may also influence O'Connor's decision to stay in Perth or move to Canberra.
A Valentine/Giteau/O'Connor inside backs combination would recreate the brilliant Brumbies' backline of old.
The Force needs to convince O'Connor it will have quality players inside him at halfback and five-eighth.
It has approached several high-profile international five-eighths, including Peter Grant, Derick Hougaard and Carlos Spencer.
Wallabies inside back Berrick Barnes has also been a target of the Force, but he is set to recommit to Queensland once he renegotiates his ARU contract.
The Force will look to celebrate its 50th Super 14 game with a win against the Bulls in Pretoria early tomorrow (AEST).
If the sixth-placed Force upsets the second-placed Bulls, it will greatly improve its chances of reaching the play-offs for the first time in its four-year history.
Force second-rower Sam Wykes has been ruled out with a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Tom Hockings.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html