Western Force coach and former England assistant boss John Mitchell has called on the Australian selectors to select veteran Scott Staniforth as the Test centre against England in June’s Test series.
Staniforth scored the winning try in Kimberley on Saturday to secure the Force’s first victory in the Super 14, and he has been in scintillating form all season and is close to a Wallaby recall.
To put it into perspective, Staniforth has scored 10 tries this season alone while the Cats, who are one place ahead of the Force in 13th spot, had scored 15 tries before Saturday’s win over the Blues.
"I can’t express in words how valuable Scottie has been to us this season," Mitchell said.
"He came back from England just looking to play in Australia and he was only supposed to be our right wing. But then injury intervened and he was first moved to outside and then inside centre. Now that he is nearer the ball he is a lot hungrier for action, and it has shown in his form."
Mitchell believes that new Wallaby coach John Connolly should hand Staniforth the number 12 shirt for England’s tour.
"He must be so close at the moment to a recall and I’d like to see him play against England."
The Force have a final chance to get themselves off the bottom of the table when they face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
