Ryan Cross to make Australian starting debut against Kiwis

[lara93]

WESTERN Force centre Ryan Cross is expected to make his Australian starting debut against New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday.
This follows today's news that Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock has been ruled out of the Sydney match.

Cross, the 2008 Force Player of the Year, has come off the bench as a replacement for Mortlock three times this year, scoring twice against the French in Brisbane.

Mortlock has failed to recover from a head knock he sustained in the second half of last weekend’s Tri-Nations Test match against South Africa at Subiaco.

His departure led to flanker George Smith assuming the captaincy - and he will continue in that role at ANZ Stadium.

”Stirling was concussed last weekend. We had hoped that, with time, the symptoms would resolve themselves, but that hasn’t happened soon enough for this match, so we’ve made the call early,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.

“George took over once Stirling left the field in Perth and got the team over the finish line so we’ve opted to maintain continuity by leaving him in charge.”

[force addict]

YAY for Crossy! No doubt he will be amazing, hope he uses this opportunity well and could quite possibly become a definite for Mortlock's replacement when/if he retires

[robyn <3]

WOW thats so great!! very well deserved and will surely keep it when mortlock is done with rugby...

[slomo]

his game-saving tackle on habbana last saturday is worthy of a starting spot alone, but strilo will be back the following week no matter how well crossy plays...........

[Woody]

More influence can only be a good thing.

[GIGS20]

Looks like God is now handling the tougher selections for the team that plays in Heaven (Perth)

Good to hear Crossy's getting his spot, and especially good that it's not from Stirlo getting seriously hurt (don't panic, I'm not minimising the seriousness of concussion, but it isn't something you have to rehabilitate from, A week or two off will see him right as rain)

In the meantime, it's a perfect time for Crossy to grab his opportunity and shake the hell out of it, with a reasonable exposure to some good centre partners playing international grade football, all that remains to be seen is who Henry picks for the blacks. I'd expect to see Crossy play like his life is on the line, he seems to be intensely aware of what it takes to carve yourself a starting spot in a reps side coz he's done everything right so far!

[BLR]

In the meantime, it's a perfect time for Crossy to grab his opportunity and shake the hell out of it, with a reasonable exposure to some good centre partners playing international grade football, all that remains to be seen is who Henry picks for the blacks. I'd expect to see Crossy play like his life is on the line, he seems to be intensely aware of what it takes to carve yourself a starting spot in a reps side coz he's done everything right so far!

Originally he was picking Kahui to be opposite Mortlock, so it could get interesting if this is the case.

[gotheforce]

Great to see Crossy get a run on. Ive got utmost faith that he'll do well and his best and wont make Robbie Deans regret it.

Wonder who will take the bench spot. I would imagine Tahu is a front runner. But there'd a couple others like Turinui etc, who have a slim chance as well.

[oxleymoron]

Tahu will be on the bench, just to keep those in Sydney happy.

[prop53]

Good on yeah Crossy have a great game

[gustafsl]

This might help Mitchell out as well. AAC can play in the centres so he might get put on the bench as cover for there and Mitchell the start at FB.

[Thequeerone]

Concussion is a funny one - automatically get a week - sometimes 3 depends on what the quacks say - happy for Cross -good for the Force and the - hard on Mortlock - fantastic for Smith - really admire that young man

[tic]

Great to see Crossy get a run on. Ive got utmost faith that he'll do well and his best and wont make Robbie Deans regret it.

Wonder who will take the bench spot. I would imagine Tahu is a front runner. But there'd a couple others like Turinui etc, who have a slim chance as well.

I don't think Turinui has an ARU contract - does that stop him from potential bench selection?

[Scotty]

I don't think Turinui has an ARU contract - does that stop him from potential bench selection?

No, but being a fatty might.

[gotheforce]

he played for Aus A, so id take it that he is.