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Thread: Pocock, Hodgson in running for return

  1. #1
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    Pocock, Hodgson in running for return

    NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
    April 21, 2011, 11:41 am

    Wallaby flankers David Pocock and Matt Hodgson could be surprise starters for the Western Force when they tackle reigning Super Rugby champions the Bulls at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

    However coach Richard Graham will not make a decision on his starting line-up until tomorrow after assessing both players at training.

    Pocock has been out of action with a knee injury since the round three game against the Sharks, while Hodgson damaged his shoulder after being dropped from a line-out against the Rebels three weeks ago.

    Pocock has recovered faster than expected and is more likely to make the side than Hodgson, who is not expected back until next week's clash with the Crusaders in Perth.

    However coach Richard Graham was not ruling out either player this morning.

    "Hodgson and Pocock will continue to train. I won't make a decision until tomorrow," he said.

    "They started their contact progressions earlier in the week and we'll see where we can get too today.

    "It (a decision) will be on the back of conversations with both the medical staff and also the boys themselves.

    "Both of them are experienced enough to know if they can handle it, if they're fit for it."

    Graham said there was a spring in the players' steps after the win against the Brumbies in Canberra last Sunday.

    "The important thing for us is to back it up this week. We need a good performance this week," he said.

    http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ng-for-return/

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    Veteran beige's Avatar
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    Fingers crossed! But if not, Pocock vs McCaw next week!

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    It'd be good for Poey to have 20 minutes at the end of the match in preparation to Pwn McCaw next week!

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    C'mon the

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    Cant see them running Poey this week. You need these boys (Hodgson, Pockock and Smith) ready for the Crusaders. We can take the Bulls without the rick of them rushing back too early I think

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    Pocock has recovered faster than expected
    That could easily be "recovered faster than most, as expected." I sure thought it would be on the cards.

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    Any news on Inman, estimated return date?

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    Would we return Inman to the starting line-up even if he was fit? Is he that much better than either Cummins or Sidey at 13? And if he won't win us matches, do we play a guy who won't be here next year? Personally, I prefer Cummins at 13. Especially if Mafi and Shepherd are fit.

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    Sidey looked out of his depth against the sharks, but with only Gits and Lealii to warm up against last week, he looks like he's finding his feet. Olithier might be a different story, but Pretorius is pretty overrated IMHO, as long as we put the whole back line under pressure (rather than isolated pockets) Pretorius is where it'll crack.

    Kirchner in cover defense is also somebody we can exploit if we can make the line breaks

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    Pretorius is out- replaced by Stephan Dipenaar.

    I wouldn't judge Sidey on the Sharks game. He was on for what like 5 minutes? Maybe he would've found his groove in a minute or two if he hadn't been red carded and perhaps had Fairbanks not joined the tackle that wouldn't have happened. Against the Bulls he is only going to get run straight at and slowly in the case of Dipenaar.

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    Even in my "he's off to Melbourne" sulks I have to say Inman is far better (at this stage) at #13 than Cummins.

    As to the what are we playing for (ie this season or next by then) then I'm not so sure, I think you still have to play your best combination both for country and for pride.
    Despite the temptation, I think it would leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth if the Force shut down the season like that without making winning the primary goal each week.

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    Champion Rex Messup's Avatar
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    Why develop his (Inman) career to play against us next year?

    I'm bitter

    I'm twisted

    Our cup is runneth over with good wingersso we can manufacture a 13 out of Cummins or go with a ready made one (Sidey). Inman can warm the bench for Neddies or Cottesloe or whoever he's never played for in the Perth metro.

    Inman can run water for the lads on game day and carry the team bags

    Sidey is 'ard. I like him. Cummins could be a great 13. His offensive hit on a runaway polynesian giant in the Brumbies 8 two meters from the line last week shows he can make a hit. That was the greatest hit by a bloke who looks like a girl that I have ever seen

    Loyalty works both ways

    PS don't forget your rain coat and prescription for anti depressants for life in Melbourne Inman, you belter

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    Last edited by Rex Messup; 22-04-11 at 06:27.
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    Burgs, I think you can make winning your primary goal and not play Inman.

    He is unfit and hasn't been developing along with our backline for weeks. Maybe if they were all on a level pegging with fitness/form/etc Inman should be picked but at the moment I think he would actually be worse than the other two.

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    I agree James, both Sidey and Cummins have shown they're getting close to the equal of Inman when he got hurt......the rest will be made up by his having a dodgy elbow now (do dislocations ever return to their former strength, not in my experience) and having six games of unfit under his belt, not to mention that the back line was pretty pedestrian before he was hurt anyway, maybe he was a contributing factor.

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    15 minutes into the second match?

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    You can't tell from 95 minutes of footy that the backs were ineffective at breaking the line?

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