By Duncan Wood
July 15 2002

Martin Shaw signed last week but the rumours continue to circle regarding a possible new centre signing. Daryl Gibson is the name that keeps cropping up and he'd certainly fit the 'phenomenal' billing.

Despite all the recent signings - Scott Morgan, Peter Richards and Martin Shaw, we are still awaiting the really big one and I mean no disrespect to these players.

When Malcolm Pearce held his press conference a few weeks ago, he promised a phenomenal new signing. The rumours immediately went off the scale.

Peter Thorburn alluded to the signing at the recent press conferences. When Morgan and Richards were introduced, he mentioned that the unnamed signing may not be in place before the start of the season.

"We obviously have to find a replacement for Jason and it's difficult to do that as he's a special character and a special rugby player. If you look at our midfield we have got a serious lack of experience. It will be addressed but the new player may not be in place before the start of the season."

Last week, when Martin Shaw was unveiled, he stated that his squad was almost complete but that there was one more player that would complete the picture.

We've all assumed that the signing will be an inside centre as a direct replacement for Jason Little. It's a position that needs filling. Andrew Higgins is a possibility when he makes a full recovery from his neck injury but we've only ever seen him play at outside centre.

Martin Shaw may well fulfil the role but when I asked him which of the two centre positions he prefers, he replied 'outside' without hesitation.

Speculation on the messageboard has been that Felipe Contepomi may play at 12 with Shane Drahm at flyhalf. But would you really break up the Pichot-Contepomi axis?

Daryl Gibson is the name that crops up time and time again. The player himself seemed to pour cold water on the story a few weeks back but, put yourself in his place, he was hardly going to talk himself out of an All Black squad place with the Tri Nations looming was he?

Gibson has now been dropped from the All Black squad with Tana Umaga and Jonah Lomu returning. Maybe something is brewing? The only other name that keeps cropping up is Scott Gibbs despite Swansea's protestations to the contrary.

All I know is, that in common with most Bristol supporters, I just want to find out who it is!