Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe has rubbished reports he and fellow Wallabies star Matt Giteau want out because they are sick of coach John Mitchell.
Sharpe, expected to return to Australia's second-row for Saturday night's Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand, labelled the NZ-based report as completely wrong and scandalous.
The Sunday News quoted an unnamed Force insider that both Sharpe and Giteau were set to leave amid a player revolt against former All Blacks coach Mitchell.
"The first I heard of that article that I was considering leaving, I'd just signed a three-year deal over there," the 70-Test lock said after Wallabies training at Ballymore today.
"I can tell you I wouldn't consider re-signing if I was unhappy in a certain area so it's complete rubbish.
"I don't know where they got those things from but that pretty much sums up where I'm at."
The source was quoted in the report saying "Giteau hates Mitchell" and there was "quite an anti-Mitchell sentiment among some of the players, they're sick of him".
There's been widespread speculation Canberra product Giteau will move back to the national capital after his three-year Force contract expires at the end of next season's Super 14.
But it's understood the major factor in his decision will be whether the Wallabies five-eighth will be offered the same massive third-party deal which was originally thrown his way by controversial company Firepower.
Sharpe today said Giteau, seen as the heir apparent as captain if he stays at the Force, had no problems with Mitchell.
"I know for a fact that Gits' problem, or what he wants to get sorted out, is the contractual things off the
field, certainly he doesn't have any problems with Mitch and he gets on really well with him," he said.
"Those reports are a bit scandalous. We love a scandal in the west."
Giteau has refused to comment to the press about the matter.
Rugby WA chief executive Greg Harris has also rejected claims of a rift after speaking to both Mitchell and the high-profile duo.
"John has just returned from a successful development tour of England with the Western Force squad and has not been in contact with our Wallaby representative players since prior to the tour," he said in a statement.
"The report appears quite mischievous and can be very damaging for the organisation and the individuals involved and has to be taken seriously.
"We are completely satisfied that we have no such issue in our team."
