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No Staniforth kick to start new season
Wayne Smith | February 11, 2009
Article from: The Australian
IT was not how Scott Staniforth had hoped to kick-start his campaign to force his way into the consciousness of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
The veteran of two World Cups, the toast of all Australia when he backed up centre partner Stirling Mortlock to score the winning try against the All Blacks in Melbourne in 2007, Staniforth, 31, will not be considered for Western Force's opening Super 14 match on Friday night in Perth.
Despite having two minor operations since sustaining knee-cartilage damage in round nine last year, Staniforth has arrived at the start of the season still a week short of being fully fit.
There is not a professional Super 14 player in Australia today, not Phil Waugh, Stirling Mortlock or George Smith -- all of whom first pulled on the Wallabies jersey in 2000 -- whose Test debut predates Staniforth's 1999 World Cup appearance against the US, but the fire within him to play for Australia hasn't dimmed.
"That's still the goal although I'm not sure where I stand in the pecking order now I'm getting older," he said.
While Staniforth, the Force's inaugural player of the year in 2006, will be missing against the Blues, his centre partner Ryan Cross will be back in the side after missing the Reds trial to attend the birth of his second daughter. It is unclear, however, who will be his midfield partner.
Junior Pelesasa has seniority but former Melbourne Storm battering ram Josh Tatupu is being seriously considered because of his physical presence.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015656,00.html