Giteau to play scrumhalf for Wallabies?

Published Oct 11, 2006

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Sydney - Matt Giteau is likely to be tried at scrumhalf on the Wallabies' European tour next month after the withdrawal of first-choice No 9 Sam Cordingley, coach John Connolly said on Wednesday.

Cordingley, promoted to first-choice after skipper George Gregan opted to stay at home, pulled out of the tour on Wednesday with a persistent foot injury that will require surgery, the Australian Rugby Union said.

Scrumhalf Josh Valentine will replace Cordingley in the 37-man Wallabies' squad.

Giteau, normally an inside-centre with the Wallabies, has been mooted as a potential scrumhalf, but is likely to get a run closer to the scrum following Cordingley's set-back.

Australia are now without their top two scrumhalves and Connolly said the Giteau experiment - planned to have happened against Italy - could be brought forward.

"It's possible, we'd targeted him to play there (later in the tour) anyway," Connolly said.

"We'll probably have a look at him earlier rather than later."

Asked if Giteau would be the scrumhalf for the November 4 Test against Wales, Connolly said: "We haven't discussed that one but I would think it's a possibility."

The Wallabies will play internationals against Wales, Italy, Ireland and Scotland and will have mid-week matches against Ireland A, Scotland A and Welsh team Ospreys.

The Australians leave on October 27 with their opening tour match against the Ospreys in Swansea on November 1.

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