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No regrets over injury-cursed tour
August 22, 2008 WESTERN Force coach John Mitchell has no regrets about his Super 14 team's development tour of the UK despite a number of key players suffering serious injuries.
The Force take on English Premiership outfit Northampton Saints on Saturday (Friday AEST) but Mitchell will be forced to make do without injury-hit quartet Scott Staniforth (knee), Caleb Brown (hamstring), Sam Wykes (shoulder) and James Dougall.
Wykes and Staniforth have already returned to Perth to receive treatment for their respective injuries.
Staniforth was ordered to undergo a second arthroscope on his right knee after a visit to a knee specialist in Perth on Thursday.
The utility back, capped 91 times at Super level, missed the final three rounds of the 2008 Super 14 season with knee cartilage damage and suffered the latest setback in the teams victory over Newcastle Falcons.
Wykes will undergo surgery to repair damage to his left shoulder and is expected to be out of action for four to six months.
Brown, who has been plagued by hamstring injuries throughout his career, broke down again at the team's training session in Northampton on Wednesday and has been ruled out for the remainder of the tour.
But despite all the injuries, Mitchell said the tour would prove beneficial in the long run.
"Two of our injuries (Wykes and Brown) have occurred during training sessions so they could have happened at any time," Mitchell said.
"It's just the nature of the game that you are going to have injuries from time to time. Overall I've been delighted with the way the team has conducted itself and the tour will prove to be very beneficial for the team going forward."
Mitchell said his side will face a strong test against the newly-promoted Saints.
"We're anticipating a full strength Northampton team to run out tomorrow, which will provide us with yet another good test for our young squad," he said.
"The brand of football we have played on this tour has been very positive. We've seen some young players come through and put their hand up to remain with the squad for the Super 14 season.
"We've also worked on developing the leadership of our senior players and they have responded well with the extra responsibility."
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html
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