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Nick Cummins to miss Hurricanes' clash
Justin Chadwick
February 26, 2015, 1:14 pm
Western Force winger Nick Cummins will be held back from Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Hurricanes to ensure he'll be cherry ripe to face the Brumbies next week.
Cummins underwent minor surgery on his left ankle last month, but he was keen to front up against the unbeaten Hurricanes after arriving back in Perth from Japan on Saturday.
However, Force coach Michael Foley says it's in the best interests of both Cummins and the team to give him one more week to recover.
That spells bad news for the Brumbies, who host the Force on Friday week.
"He won't play this week," Foley said on Thursday.
"He ran fully earlier in the week, but it (his ankle) got a little bit swollen. So we're not going to take any risks."
Foley is confident Cummins' ankle won't be an ongoing issue throughout the season.
"It was relatively minor surgery," Foley said of the 15-Test winger, who had some floating bone removed from his ankle.
"You are always mindful when someone returns from surgery and they start to play again for the first time. You might need to deload him early in the week.
"But it certainly shouldn't hold him back from playing week in, week out, unless something extra happens."
The Force will also enter the match without lock Adam Coleman (hip), and flanker Chris Alcock (ankle).
But in some better news, Wallabies prop Pek Cowan will return from a neck injury to bolster a pack that struggled to fire in last week's 18-6 loss to the Reds.
The Force's scrum was heavily penalised in that match, with the Reds even awarded a penalty try from a tighthead scrum in the second half.
But Foley believes some of the Reds' scrummaging tactics may have created an unfair perception that the Force's pack was weak.
Foley has been in contact with SANZAR referees boss Lyndon Bray this week to hammer home his point and ensure referees don't have pre-conceived ideas about the Force's pack.
"Coming out of the Reds game, there were some things that happened there that you need to make sure people are attentive to, so it doesn't hang on your head as an issue," Foley said.
"There were some things in that game we weren't happy with, but we've dealt with that with Lyndon.
"We've sent that video through."
The Force have lost their past six matches against the Hurricanes, but they are hopeful of ending that streak in their first home match of the season.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...ricanes-clash/
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Loosehead prop Pek Cowan returns to face the Wellington Hurricanes tomorrow night (27 February) at the Force Field! This match will be the opening home match for Force’s 10th season of Asteron Life Super Rugby.
Cowan was carried from the field in the club’s opening round match against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, with scans clearing him of any serious injury.
The match will be the 28-year-old’s 93rd for the Western Force – allowing him to surpass Nathan Sharpe (92 matches) as the second most-capped player for the club. Matt Hodgson (113 matches) remains the most-capped Western Force player.
For more information regarding tomorrow’s match click here- http://www.westernforce.com.au/
Tickets are available for the Western Force’s match against the Wellington Hurricanes at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) on Friday, 27 February. Tickets are available from www.westernforce.com.au.
2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Western Force vs Hurricanes
1. Pekahou Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Sam Wykes (c)
5. Steve Mafi*
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Brynard Stander
8. Ben McCalman
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Zack Holmes
11. Marcel Brache
12. Solomoni Jnr Rasolea
13. Kyle Godwin
14. Luke Morahan
15. Luke Burton
Reserves
16. Heath Tessmann
17. Chris Heiberg
18. Oliver Hoskins
19. Rory Walton
20. Kane Koteka**
21. Ian Prior
22. Sias Ebersohn
23. Mitchell Scott
* denotes Western Force/Super Rugby starting debut
** denotes Western Force/Super Rugby debut cap
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
No Sias? Mafi starting - bewdy!
New member here (to the forum and the Force). I like the lineup changes. We'll see if the kicking Sias has done has been Foley's gameplan or Sias' preference. I like seeing Mafi in the lineup; he's an oversized flanker who will give us good pace in the field. And I'm intrigued to see what Stander can do with significant minutes. He's been high energy off the bench, and hopefully that can continue for 80 mins. I hear Burton is talented so we'll see what he's got.
Go blue
Forwards as expected with injury list, backs some surprise but good ones.
Good to see the challenge being thrown out to Zack and Luke, WA boys getting ago against the Canes.
Good on Foles, Sias was a bit one paced last week and shaking the tree last year produced some good results.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Some team comparisons:
Starting XV:
HURRICANES: 848 SXV caps; 9 Test Players - 310 caps.
FORCE: 667 SXV caps; 5W/1AB Test Players - 59 caps ( BMcC 38 caps; Cowan 10)
Benches:
HURRICANES: 128 SXV caps; 2 Test Players - 12 caps.
FORCE: 168 SXV caps; 0 Test Players.
Packs:
HURRICANES: 881kg
FORCE: 875kg
Lose 15kg with Front Row replacements.
So, once again, experience heavily weighted towards the Hurricanes.
I don't think that we have beaten them.
First home game in our 10th year a very good time to turn this around.
Burto has looked good every time I've seen him so far.
He's a bucket full of enthusiasm and has plenty of skills to back it up. Used to playing further inside, I'm sure he'll be up to the defensive challenges of wing, hopefully his pace is enough to match it with some bloody quick Canes.
As for Mafi.....I expect big things!
C'mon the![]()
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what is wrong with Steenkamp? Injured or out of favour? I thought he was always pretty solid and was reliable in the lineout which has been an issue so far.
you mean this? Will never forget it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg834GiB0JI
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
Would still love to know what Sharpie said to Sheps before that kick ??? One time you could have heard a pin drop at Spewbie while we waited for the kick..Then there was more noise than a AFL grand final.. What a night !!!!!
not a big mystery
"whatever happens mate. we'll still love you"
So Kearnsey will be there tomorrow - everyone got their rotten eggs ready? Anyone sitting near the Fox bench at the game to give him a good earbashing to give the nob at every opportunity?