NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
April 28, 2011, 7:34 am


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Nathan Charles is hoping he doesn't have to repeat his length-of-the-field run late in this Saturday's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders to help secure another Western Force victory.

The young hooker will be much happier having to make just a few metres to the line as he did for his first Force try against the Rebels earlier this year.

Either way, he will like to have some memory of it.

Charles brought Force fans to their feet as he set off on his marathon sprint last year to set up the memorable come-from-behind 24-16 win over the New Zealanders.

But as he passed inside to Cameron Shepherd, his teammate caught him with his knee and he doesn't remember Matt Hodgson getting the final pass to touch down.

Charles, who was called into the Wallabies training squad before last year's northern hemisphere tour, has achieved elite status in Super Rugby despite suffering from cystic fibrosis.

He is the only professional rugby player to have done so, and is now national ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Australia.

He will start at nib Stadium against a Crusaders side certain to be fired up after falling 26-18 to the resurgent Highlanders.

"We will want to put a stranglehold on them," Charles said. "We wouldn't want to leave it that late in the game again.

"I wouldn't want to have to go that distance that late in the game again."

The Crusaders have always brought out the best in the Force but Charles said no particular emphasis has been put on the game.

"There's no doubt they have been the benchmark team in Super Rugby but we won't approach this game any differently," he said.

"Obviously we make a few strategic changes for each game but we will train the same as we do every week.

"A team like the Crusaders does not have many weaknesses and we are expecting another hard game."

The New Zealanders have been hit by injury and have plucked former All Blacks and Crusaders captain Reuben Thorne, who has 129 Super Rugby appearances, from club rugby as cover for Brad Thorn, who will be missing for a month with a calf muscle injury.

Thorne, who has been player-coach for High School Old Boys since returning to Canterbury from Japanese club Yamaha in February, is likely to be on the bench behind Chris Jack and youngster Luke Romano.

Star fly-half Dan Carter's dodgy hamstring looks set to keep him out of the game, second-rowers Sam Whitelock and Joe Wheeler have ankle and hip damage respectively, loose forward Kieran Read will not play, nor will scrum-half Andy Ellis, who has a broken thumb.

Captain Richie McCaw is ready to return to the starting line-up for the first time this season with the Force expecting their own world class No.7 David Pocock to line up against him.

Flanker Matt Hodgson, winger David Smith and centre Mitch Inman will also come into contention after recovering from injury to bring depth back to the Force squad.


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