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The West Australian
Nick Taylor
April 15, 2014, 6:30 am
Western Force have lost two key players - scrum-half Alby Mathewson and winger Luke Morahan - for the important clash with the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night.
Mathewson, who has been the form No.9 in the Australian conference, rolled his right ankle and Morahan damaged a hamstring in the battling 28-16 win over the Waratahs on Saturday.
Ian Prior, who signed from the Brumbies this season, will start on Friday and Justin Turner will make another return to the team, on the reserves bench, after four injury-hit years. Original third- choice scrum-half Ryan Louwrens is already out for the season with a knee injury.
The Force medical team will work overtime to get second- rower Sam Wykes (ribs) and prop Pek Cowan (leg), who were also hurt on Saturday, ready for Melbourne when they will be chasing a sixth successive win.
If they are not passed fit, coach Michael Foley's squad depth will be tested severely for the first time this year with forwards Hugh McMeniman and Chris Alcock already out with long- term injuries.
The 32-7 round-three win over the Rebels was the result that put the Force on the path to their unprecedented run of five wins.
Saturday's hat-trick hero Nick Cummins said the injuries would bite but it wasn't always about what names were on the player sheet.
"It's the feeling and attitude that the culture has brought and that's what the boys take into the game," he said. "Sometimes it's a mind thing. You get that right and everybody performs together."
Cummins said that despite their lofty position - second on the Australian conference and fourth overall - the Force would not take any expectations into the game against a Rebels side languishing at the bottom of the conference table with two wins.
"The Rebels games have been a little bit different since the last time we played them. They've got a lot of strike force and there's no way they are going to be the same team we played here," Cummins said.
"This is going to be similar to the Waratahs. It will be tough up front. These blokes are going to be hungry and that's what brings out good performance.
"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, we've done a 180 in form. We've been due for a while.
"The culture has changed a bit here which has put on a bit of belief, a feeling of belonging, and everyone is buying into it.
"I've seen a few seasons here. There's been some dark times, some medieval times early on."
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...men-ruled-out/
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
If Alby doesn't play I think this will be the first time he has missed a Super Rugby game due to an injury.
Any game of rugby for that matter, first EVER!!
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Any other year with injuries to key players I would now be starting to get that depressed feeling "oh another bloody miserable result again". But this year "No! Not one bit!" with our depth, guts and belief in each other I know this team can do it.
Go the Mighty![]()
May the FORCE be with you!
Indeed, we can cover for these injuries: Prior for Mathewson and DHP/CTM/Brache/Dellit/Stubbs for Morahan.
Even Pek can be replaced by Faulkner, Charles by Tessman, Wykes by Coleman/Battye/Walton, and Hayward by DHP.
This is much better than previous years where the squad beyond the first XV looked thin and raw. Fortunately we have a bit of an 'easier'* run (Rebels, Bulls, Bye, Cheetahs, Stormers; one mid-table and the three bottom teams) in the next five weeks.
(* If any game can be called easy in Super Rugby!)
Last edited by Sheikh; 15-04-14 at 13:10.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Don't forget Rory Sheikh, but I agree, we are in much better shape than the past and also most teams currently, considering how many clouds are hanging over.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
i posted it else where but this would be my team
1 Pek/Falkner
2 Charles
3 Longbottom
4 Colman
5 Steenkamp
6 Cottral
7 Hodgson
8 McCalman
9 prior
10 Ebersohn
11 cummins
12 CTM
13 Godwin
14 marcel
15 DHP
16 Tessmann
17 Falkner/manu
18 Hoskins
19 Wykes/Walton
20 stander
21 turner
22 Holmes
23 burton
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
Would agree with only one change, keeping Godwin at 12 and CTM at 13. I think Ebersohn knows Godwin's style of play and adjusting to CTM may just throw him off a little.
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
$2.02 with sportsbet Rebel $1.80
May the FORCE be with you!
Still the underdogs
Just the way we like it
Mathewson is who we will miss the most. When he went off last week our structure lost its form, and our attack weakened. Our 9 and 10 have been fantastic in running the show for us this year.
The others we can cover - just.
Sias and the forwards need to be chatting with Prior constantly. Maybe bring Godwin into first receiver more often.
I think it is time to except the injuries and let the players rest up for the bulls
Rory Walton would be up to the challenge on the bench with coleman starting for Wykes
Fualkner to start and rest the pek
Tessman to start with Charles off the bench
DHP to cover haywood
Pior for Mathewson
I do understand 6 from 6 would be nice and with these changes i am sure this could happen but season ending injuries due to not allowing them some time to recoup then we loose more games... I think the bench and the wider squad have watched the wins and would love to be part of them and would step up against the weakest side we play in the run home. Not saying the rebels will be a push over but they can be rattled
Bring home the win Boys P L E A S E
Remember your lucky charms and undies or whatever..everyone..![]()