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Hodgson is a driving force
- By Iain Payten
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- March 22, 2010 12:00AM
IT was a night of alarming sights when the Brumbies lost to the Blues in Auckland the other night.
Just when the shock of seeing George Smith with straight hair was sinking in (he may need to get Seinfeld's plumber in to fix the shower pressure), he was leaving the field injured. Yes, injured.
The Brumbies ironman, who had missed just one Super 14 game in 11 seasons, was sitting uncomfortably on the sidelines with an injured shoulder - and he might miss a second game next week.
It's far from ideal for the Brumbies but life without Smith will soon become permanent, so we'd better get used to it.
Even without David Pocock, the Waratahs-Force game showed that Robbie Deans has plenty of experienced openside flankers with their hands up to fill the void when Smith leaves.
Matt Hodgson and Phil Waugh had a fascinating duel for what will likely be the role of understudy to Pocock.
Hodgson, the 28-year-old journeyman from the Central Coast, was outstanding for the Force. He was a good reason why the Waratahs failed to show the excitement in attack they did the week before against the Lions.
A tackling machine built low to the ground, the Force No. 7 perfectly timed his entries into the breakdown and turned over NSW's ball when they were in good position.
The unassuming Hodgson would never admit it but each strong performance against the Waratahs would be sweet.
The former Eastwood flanker and fringe NSW player was compelled to move to Perth in 2006. Being stuck behind Waugh will do that to a player.
But the former Australian sevens captain has thrived in WA. He was the Force's player-of-the-year last season and Deans called him into the Wallabies set-up last year.
He suffered a shoulder injury playing for the Wallabies against the Barbarians but went on Australia's spring tour, where he played in two midweek wins over Gloucester and Cardiff. Deans is a fan and efforts like Saturday night's will bring him closer to making his Test debut.
Just when Hodgson looked to be the best No. 7 on the night, up stepped Waugh. With the Force camped on NSW's line for the final 10 minutes, their captain saved the day three times.
He first held up a Force player over the line and won two "holding on" penalties as he fought low and hard for the ball.
In the final play of the game, he was his typically wholehearted, mongrel-dog, never-say-die self.
After the match his battered melon looked like it had been used in the A-League Grand Final's penalty shootout.
His Test rugby days are not over by a long shot. Somewhere, Robbie Deans is smiling
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225843452024