Shepherd, Brown can force way back

[travelling_gerry]

Wallabies Richard Brown and Cameron Shepherd are in line to open their 2012 Western Force account in the club's first home game of the year against the Hurricanes on Friday.

Back-rower Brown is expected to take Wallaby teammate Ben McCalman's spot after the No.8 injured his left shoulder in Saturday's 35-20 loss to the Queensland Reds.

McCalman's arm was in a sling yesterday and coach Richard Graham was waiting for the results of scans last night.

Shepherd, overlooked for the season opener and then bothered by a leg strain, trained for long periods at full-back yesterday.

Second rower Sam Wykes, who strained a hamstring in a pre-season trial, also comes into consideration after successfully getting through a game with the representative Perth Gold side against Sydney club West Harbour on Sunday. Brown and Shepherd also played.

Graham will probably keep faith with halves Brett Sheehan and James Stannard who started against the Reds.

Fly-half Ben Seymour, who came off the bench for his Super Rugby debut in the second half, is likely to stay in the reserves.

Scrum-half Justin Turner also trained and looked to have recovered from a hamstring problem.

Second-rower Nathan Sharpe was expecting an open game against the Hurricanes.

"They've lost a few personnel over the last couple of years but they haven't seemed to change their attacking philosophy," he said.

The Hurricanes have won their past four encounters against the Force.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...orce-way-back/

[GAFFA]

Please RG show alittle bit of creativity and start seymour at 10.

[jono]

Stannard will get another shot. Who makes way on the bench for turner though?
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[The InnFORCEr]

JT should be back

[jono]

Yeah I saw that. Great news! Hopefully he can be fighting it out for a start in a few weeks. Wonder who will go from the bench for him to come into the 22 though
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