Giteau shift to lift flat Brumbies
* Bret Harris, Rugby Union
* From: The Australian
ALTHOUGH it is not his preferred position, Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau is expected to start at inside centre for the Brumbies in their pivotal Super 14 game against the Chiefs in Canberra on Friday night.
And the Brumbies are likely to be without veteran openside flanker George Smith, whosustained a shoulder injury in the 39-35 loss to the Blues in Auckland on Friday night.
Giteau's move to inside centre would not only cover the loss of Christian Lealiifano for the rest of the series with a knee injury, but ignite the Brumbies' stagnant attacking game.
With Giteau almost certain to make the move from No 10 to No 12, Matt To'omua would take over the five-eighth role.
Even before Lealiifano was injured in Auckland, Giteau moved to inside centre on some plays to provide penetration in the midfield. And Giteau finished the game at inside centre after Lealiifano went off.
"That's a possibility," Brumbies coach Andy Friend said of Giteau starting at inside centre. "Matt To'omua is a genuine 10, while we know what Matt Giteau can do. He can play 10 or 12. We have to have that discussion."
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Smith will have scans on his injured shoulder today, but Friend does not expect him to play against the Chiefs.
"It didn't look good," Friend said. "We'll give it 48 hours before we make a call, but I don't expect him to play. He'll be a big loss."
Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles moved to openside flanker when Smith went off last Friday, but Friend is considering starting promising academy player Michael Hooper at number seven. "Stephen Hoiles went into seven on Friday, but he prefers number eight," Friend said. "We have a couple of young sevens in our academy, Michael Hooper and Colby Fainga'a.
"Hooper is in his first year out of school, but he made an impression in the trials. We need to have a close look at our balance. We need a genuine seven in that role and he would be suited to it."
Veteran Wallabies outside centre Stirling Mortlock, who missed the Blues match because of a neck-shoulder injury, will return to the starting line-up if he is fit.
The Brumbies missed his physicality in the midfield, where Blues centre Rene Ranger caused havoc.
Julian Huxley continued his comeback for the Brumby Runners in their 29-5 win against West Harbour in Sydney on Saturday night, but it is probably too soon for him to be considered for a recall to the Brumbies.
After playing conservative South African teams for four weeks straight, the Brumbies' one-on-one defence did not cope with the Blues' more adventurous attack.
Friend is expecting more of the same against the Chiefs, who are the kings of unstructured rugby. "We knew we would get an open brand of rugby, which we hadn't had," Friend said.
"We knew they would challenge our defensive line and ask a lot of questions of us. We answered a fair few of them, but not enough. What we got is what we expected. We'll get more of the same this week.
"The Chiefs are a quality team. They have two strike runners in Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masanga on the wings and they feed off the back of that.
"All games are important, but this is a really important game for us," Friend said.
