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By Bret Harris
February 02, 2008
WESTERN Force players will attempt to impress two coaches, John Mitchell and Robbie Deans, when they play the Crusaders in a Super 14 trial at Olympic Park in Melbourne.
The players will be looking to catch Mitchell's eye to secure places in the Force's 22-man squad, and those with Test ambitions will be aiming to make an impression on Deans, who will assume the Australia job after the Super 14.
Former Wallabies half-back Matt Henjak will be highly motivated, after being left in the international wilderness during the John Connolly era.
With George Gregan finishing his career overseas and Deans's stated intention to end the experiment of playing Matt Giteau at half-back, the race for the gold No.9 jersey is wide open.
Henjak has suffered because of perceptions about his off-field behaviour - he was sent home from a Wallabies tour to South Africa for an incident in a nightclub - and poor form in his first season with the Force in 2006.
But there is no doubt Henjak is a hugely talented player and his form improved markedly last year.
The fact he is forming a halves partnership with his close friend Giteau at the Force may also enhance his Wallabies prospects.
Other Force players who will be looking to impress Deans include captain and second rower Nathan Sharpe, young openside flanker David Pocock, outside backs Cameron Shepherd and Drew Mitchell, utility back Scott Staniforth and rugby league convert Ryan Cross.
Deans, no doubt, will also be keenly interested to see how Giteau performs in his new position at five-eighth.
The Force's team is reasonably settled, but there is still competition for several spots.
The most contentious area is the backrow with six players, Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Scott Fava, Richard Brown, Scott Fardy and new recruit Tamati Horua competing for three spots.
Shepherd is expected to secure his preferred full-back position, shifting Mitchell to the wing, which may have Wallabies implications.
David Pusey will have a fight on his hands to keep promising young second rower Tom Hockings out of the starting line-up.
Scott Daruda has been ear-marked as the back-up five-eighth and inside centre, but he could push for a start at inside centre if the Force is prepared to play Staniforth at outside centre.
But the player to watch is five-eighth James O'Connor, 17 and regarded by some as the best inside back to emerge in Australia since Giteau.
The match will mark Deans's first outing on Australian soil since becoming Wallabies coach. Although he is focusing on the Crusaders, he is sure to be taking notes on his future charges.
Henjak to play for two masters - Rugby - Fox Sports