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Giteau is anticipating a rough ride from the Brumbies
14/05/2008 9:13:00 AM Giteau is anticipating a rough ride from the Brumbies - Local News - Sport - Rugby League - The Canberra Times
Western Force flyhalf Matt Giteau fully expects the ACT Brumbies to target him on Friday night. Giteau will play his second game against the Brumbies since leaving Canberra at the end of the 2006 Super 14 season when the Force host the ACT at Subiaco.
The 25-year-old, who keeps in contact with several Brumbies, welcomed yesterday the expected onslaught in a game which will decide the second-best performed Australian team behind the NSW Waratahs this season.
''When you go out there, nobody on the other team is your friend, that's professional sport and Friday night will be no different,'' Giteau said. ''I certainly expect them to come hard at me and not give me any favours, a bit because of my history with the club but also a bit because I'm playing flyhalf now and that probably comes with the territory.
''If anything you probably want to go a little harder against your old team. So I'll be keen to see what they've got for me and keen to see what I can do on Friday night.''
Giteau left the Brumbies two years ago on a deal worth $1.5million per season. He has committed to Australian rugby until the end of 2011. But his deal with the Force is up for renegotiation at the end of next year, fueling speculation he will return to Canberra.
The inside centre turned scrumhalf turned flyhalf trained in the rain with his teammates in Perth yesterday as they prepared for their final Super 14 match of the year.
Giteau has become the Force's main go-to man to the extent he is at times its only attacking option.
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher expected the Perth-based team to again run most of its plays through Giteau, but remained unsure whether that would prove an advantage or disadvantage for the visitors.
''They'll play a bit off their 12 but yeah, Matt is definitely their main source of attack,'' Fisher said. ''For us, that means we can focus a lot more on Gits in our preparation which could be beneficial but on the other hand, would you prefer one of the best players in the world gets his hands on the ball more? 'It's six-to-one, half-a-dozen the other from our perspective.''
Force coach John Mitchell named his team yesterday.The only changes to the run-on side that lost to the Wellington Hurricanes last weekend is the inclusion of Chris O'Young at scrumhalf and Pekahou Cowan at loosehead prop.
Mitchell said that while the game had no bearing on the make-up of the finals, a win for his side would ensure it recorded an improved season from last year.
''We've got the opportunity to go seven-and-six and you'd much rather have it looking that way over the other way,'' he said.
''It is a local derby, and the Brumbies have been the benchmark of Australian rugby for a long time.
''The outcome [of the game] could be that [we lose to every Australian side], but more importantly it is about how we play.
''If that happens to be the case then we have to go back to the drawing board and find out why we have not performed against Australian teams this year.''
Both the Force and Brumbies have training-free days today.
FRIDAY
Super 14 Round 14: Western Force v ACT
Brumbies at Subiaco Oval, 9pm.
BRUMBIES TEAM
15. Mark Gerrard,
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper,
13. Stirling Mortlock,
12. Tyrone Smith,
11. Francis Fainifo,
10. Christian Lealiifano,
9. Patrick Phibbs,
8. Stephen Hoiles,
7. George Smith,
6. Mitchell Chapman,
5. Mark Chisholm,
4. Alister Campbell,
3. Guy Shepherdson,
2. John Ulugia,
1. Nic Henderson.
Reserves: 16. Saia Faingaa, 17. Salesi Ma'afu, 18. Peter Kimlin, 19. Julian Salvi,
20. Josh Holmes, 21. Matt Toomua, 22. Afusipa Taumoepeau
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