Western Force dealt double injury blow

[The InnFORCEr]

Justin Chadwick,
AAP
Updated March 13, 2013, 2:13 pm


Western Force winger Nick Cummins and lock Sam Wykes have been ruled out of Saturday night's clash with the Queensland Reds, while skipper Matt Hodgson is also in danger of missing the Super Rugby match.

Cummins has been battling inflammation in his knee for some weeks now, while Wykes suffered a minor ankle sprain during the team's 36-26 loss to the Bulls a fortnight ago.

Both have already been ruled out against the Reds, while Hodgson faces a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury.

Complicating matters for Hodgson is the impending birth of his first child, who is expected any day from now.

Hodgson didn't fly with the rest of the squad to Brisbane on Wednesday, but is still a slight chance of making the trek east later in the week.

"If we hold him out, it won't be because he couldn't play, but more the fact we would be taking a risk if we did play him," coach Michael Foley said.

"We don't want to do that. He's very important to us for the rest of the season.

"We're also pleased with how Chris Alcock played against the Bulls, so we're fortunate it's one position where we do have a lot of depth."

Patrick Dellit is in line to replace Cummins on the wing, while the Force are spoilt for choice in the back row, with the likes of Richard Brown, Alcock, Ben McCalman and Angus Cottrell among the options.

The Reds welcome back Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia from a long-term knee injury, but they were forced to make a double switch on the wing after suspending Digby Ioane and ruling out Dom Shipperley (back).

Those positions are likely to be filled by Luke Morahan and Chris Feauai-Sautia as the Reds attempt to notch their fourth straight win.

Force five-eighth Sias Ebersohn was a revelation against the Bulls, returning a 16-point haul in his run-on debut for the club.

But Foley said the Force needed more than just a good kicking game to get the win against Queensland.

"Sias Ebersohn is a very impressive young 10. In South Africa for a short time, he was seen as the next best thing," Foley said.

"Often, young players get enormous pressure put on them, which is unfair.

"Sias Ebersohn is not the saviour for the Force. It's going to be a whole team performance that gets us results."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...e-injury-blow/

[jargan83]

Oh cruel fate thusly boned

Mind you Wykes is no loss

[shasta]

Ouch! But it's a bit less of a problem with the depth our team is developing. I like the way Alcock plays @ 7. He also brings a strong ball carry to the arsenal. I won't be surprised if the Force develop another Wallaby there.
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[eleypinkbit]

Wykes wasn't at the Open Day cos he was undergoing rehab, so not surprised

[eleypinkbit]

Ouch! But it's a bit less of a problem with the depth our team is developing. I like the way Alcock plays @ 7. He also brings a strong ball carry to the arsenal. I won't be surprised if the Force develop another Wallaby there.
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Isn't he South African?

[zimeric]

guys, wyksey was awesome last year before his injury.. if his last two games had gone better noone would be saying shit like this, a little more respect for our players please, thanks

[jargan83]

Wykes wasn't at the Open Day cos he was undergoing rehab, so not surprised

On his hair?

[shasta]

Isn't he South African?

Originally. But I dunno how old he was when he came over. He arrived here via Eastwood and the Tahds. Pretty sure he's not a Springbok.
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[GIGS20]

Thankfully, the three injury clouds are covered pretty well by able replacements.
The way Sam's playing this year, I'm not convinced he'd have made the team in favour of Phoenix, Hodgeo was actually outplayed by Chris Alcock last game and brown dog, Benny Mac, Gus Cotterell et al will ably cover his absence.

Honeybadger is a bit of a worry, because he is head and shoulders above anybody who would replace him, it also makes our back three a little one dimensional. We do have some capable outside backs though, and might see some of those names we've been looking for (Hayward, CTM, Rapana, Stubbs et al) crack it for a game.

It will need to be a 22 man effort this week.

[DinkyDi]

guys, wyksey was awesome last year before his injury.. if his last two games had gone better noone would be saying shit like this, a little more respect for our players please, thanks

Zim - you are absolutely right. If he had played the last two games on the same form as last year no one would be complaining..... HOWEVER... he hasn't. He is off the pace for whatever reason and as such needs to be replaced with someone in form. Where is the issue? Okay, some of the posters could be more eloquent in their comments re Sam but all in all last year's rep means diddly if you cant back it up.

I would not like to see the selection based on anything other than form lest we become the Wallabies.

[jargan83]

He is off the pace for whatever reason and as such needs to be replaced with someone in form.

The saying "You're only as good as your last game game" comes to mind

[GAFFA]

Team something like this

1. Pek
2. Charles
3. Falkner
4. Lynn
5. MMM
6. Gus
7. Alcock
8. Brown/McCalman

9. Alby
10. Sias
11. Mafi
12. Godwin
13. Stanley?
14. Delitt
15. Tupou

16. Whittiker (unless the Force will give Teesman his 4th game and a full contrac)
17. Maafu
18. Battye
19. Brown/McCalman
20. Snowden/Eaton
21. Haywood
22. Junior

[Muddly]

Team something like this

1. Pek
2. Charles
3. Falkner
4. Lynn
5. MMM
6. Gus
7. Alcock
8. Brown/McCalman

9. Alby
10. Sias
11. Mafi
12. Godwin
13. Stanley?
14. Delitt
15. Tupou

16. Whittiker (unless the Force will give Teesman his 4th game and a full contrac)
17. Maafu
18. Battye
19. Brown/McCalman
20. Snowden/Eaton
21. Haywood
22. Junior

Agree except 13 Tupou, 15 Ed Stubbs. Stanley to get another week off.

[GAFFA]

Agree except 13 Tupou, 15 Ed Stubbs. Stanley to get another week off.

yeah im not a fan of stanly but stubbs played yesterday and stanly is the Incumbent

[Darkness]

"Nick Cummins and lock Sam Wykes have been ruled out of Saturday night's clash with the Queensland Reds"

This is a good news story.

Force to cause an upset.