Staniforth set for Super 14

[Jehna]

Staniforth set for Super 14

31/01/2008 12:12:29 PM
Chris Pike
Sportal

Versatile Western Force and Wallabies star Scott Staniforth has received the all clear on his shoulder that ended his World Cup campaign early.

Staniforth was concerned before Christmas that his shoulder may not have fully healed, but he now expects to face the Sharks in week one of the Super 14 season in Durban.

While Staniforth will miss this Saturday's trial match in Melbourne against the Crusaders, he will play the Reds next Thursday and then travel to South Africa with the rest of the Force squad.

"I went to the specialist and got the all clear. I'm starting to get into some tackling drills now as well, so it's all coming along how I would have hoped," Staniforth said.

"The little bit of discomfort I was feeling was natural, which I didn't know at the time. I thought something more serious might have been wrong, but the surgeon told me that's to be expected. My strength is still 10 or 20 per cent off, but I have two weeks to get it right."

"I missed our internal last weekend, I won't play the Crusaders but will take on the Reds. Over the next two weeks I just have to do as much tackling as I can. I'm sitting out the Crusaders game for safety more than anything."

The shoulder injury ended Staniforth's World Cup early and he will keep the screws that were inserted in until the international matches of 2008 are over.

"I was a bit worried about where the screws were in my shoulder, but I've done some tackling now and it's not obstructing me at all, which is good. The screws will stay in until I get some time off at the end of the season," the 31-year-old said.

"Unfortunately, the last two seasons I've had injuries in pre-season and only played the one trial game, but have hit the ground running for the start of the season, so I don't see much of a problem with it."

The plus of being on the sidelines for much of the pre-season is that Staniforth has been able to assess the rest of the group. He expects the Force to have a strong 2008 campaign and has been particularly impressed with Sam Wykes, David Pocock, Scott Daruda and Cameron Shepherd.

"I've been looking on from the sidelines with my injury and it's amazing how far ahead we are than our first and even second year with skills and knowing game patterns. In our first year, we didn't have much of an idea, but now we will hit the ground running," he said.

Starting the season in South Africa against the Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions is not easy in anyone's book, but Staniforth is confident of a strong start.

"If we get at least two, or even all three wins it will set us right up. If we have a bad tour over there, we will really be chasing the season already, so we are desperate to not let that happen," he said.

"We've only lost the one game over there the last two years, so we go over with confidence. The Sharks will be a hard first game, but it's a good challenge to start off with."

[prop53]

Hope you have a good injury free season

[jono]

Hope you have a good injury free season

what he said

[slomo]

good news we need a fit stanners this season.......

[GIGS20]

GREAT NEWS! Spanner will give us the strength, versatility and experience we need in the playing group, especially with Junior hurt. I hope Scotty Daruda has a blinder this year...He struggled a bit in the first year and didn't get a lot of game time last year, with Jimmy down for a while, he really needs to tear it up. Confidence to bring Daruda on late in the match, with both Gits and Spanner on the field, means we could cover any backline position with one back off the bench, meaning that our second reserve back could be a massive impact player scheduled to come on in the 60th minute. Who votes for Nicky Cummins replacing whoever has played 14?