It's family first this week for Force centre Ryan Cross
It's family first this week for Force centre Ryan Cross
- Tim Clarke
- February 2, 2009 - 1:00PM
An impending arrival will prevent Western Force centre Ryan Cross from departing for the team's final trial game against Queensland this week, meaning the Wallaby will go into the Super 14 season with no competitive practice minutes under his belt.
Cross and wife Danielle are due to welcome their second child into the world on Wednesday, with the star rugby league convert given the week off to attend the birth rather than travel to Queensland for Thursday's clash with the Reds.
Having sat out the Force's first practice game against the Crusaders, a rest decreed in his ARU contract, the Force's player of the year hasn’t played a single minute of practice rugby before the Blues arrive at Subiaco on February 13.
Naming a strong 24-man squad to travel to Queensland, John Mitchell said he was confident Cross' general conditioning would set him up for the season - and a new baby would not phase him either.
"Crossy's very fortunate in that he is going to become a father for the second time, and family comes before games," Mitchell said.
"We are very fortunate that it is outside the competition, so we actually have to prepare Crossy very differently going into the competition.
"A lot of our preparation is designed around game-specific situations. In contact it is probably pretty close to match conditions so there is enough within the training for him to prepare.
"We wish him and Danielle well, and knowing Crossy he won't lose too much sleep and too much sweat over it."
Wallaby stars Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau will both be included in this week's practice game.
"There are a lot of blokes who have not had a lot of minutes … there are 24 players, it is going to be pretty humid there," Mitchell said
"All the international players have prepared well, come up well … and they have integrated in really well.
"But no matter how good you are as a footballer you have just got to get out there and get used the nuances of the game and the physicality of the game.
"You don’t get that just by turning up … so it is essential they get those game minutes."
And there is also a surprise place for lock Pat O'Connor who has recovered quickly from a hamstring injury.
"He is a big man Beef, and a very strong lock forward. If he can endure the game minutes and become a strong carrying forward across the game line then we will seriously look at him," Mitchell said.
http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/its-...0202-7vfw.html
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