Ripia out of Force opener, O'Connor moves to 10

[travelling_gerry]

NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
February 18, 2011, 8:43 am

Western Force have been dealt a big blow before their Super Rugby opener against the Queensland Reds on Sunday with the news flyhalf Willie Ripia has been ruled out through injury.

Ripia has been struggling with a foot injury, although Force had been hoping to nurse him through in time for the game at Suncorp Stadium. However, the key playmaker had a protective boot on at training this morning and will not travel with squad.

That means James O'Connor will move to No10, with Cameron Shepherd likely to play at fullback.

However there is some good news for the Force with another injury doubt, Wallabies flanker Matt Hodgson, given the all-clear.

Force: Pek Cowan, Ben Whittaker, Tim Fairbrother, Nathan Sharpe, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, James O’Connor, David Smith, Gene Fairbanks, Mitch Inman, Nick Cummins, Cameron Shepherd. Replacements to be named ...


http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...r-moves-to-10/

[shasta]

Like deja vu all over again?

A protective boot is not usually needed for simple bruising, either.

[James]

At least we have a bye next week so he'll have two weeks to get it right.

It is a bit deja-vuy isn't it.

[Rex Messup]

Like deja vu all over again?

A protective boot is not usually needed for simple bruising, either.

It is for generation Y

[jazza93]

There is going to be a lot of tries on Sunday. Cooper and O'Conner don't waste any time with ball in hand and create something at every opportunity. None of this NH composed and structured rugby bullshit.

[Lee Grant]

A pity about Ripia: he had a cracking game in the trial v Oz Baas.

Good to see Shep starting again - he played OK at Nowra.

The experiment of McCalman at lock failed IMO at Nowra and the Tahs bullied them in the lineout - though Sharpie wasn't playing. It's a matter of getting all their good players on the park. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.

The Force scrum will have to improve a whole lot also. They will be against a very big pack.

[Boomer]

Righto. Time to bring the hate.

Last year's drubbing still burns. The talk of being "rolled". The skylarking after the tries. The revolting, disrespectful TV commentary. What raw insolence from a pack of over-hyped ninnies and wise men from the east.

I hope the boys are still hurting too. I hope they run the fatties off their feet come Sunday. I want Poey all over Cooper from the off. Sharpe schooling their line out. The back three to show 'em what real pace looks like.

I hope RG has clips from last year loaded onto their iPods and on heavy rotation.

Their dung heap. Sunday. Revenge.

[Rex Messup]

Love the spite Boomer. Great work son
I'm with you bro

[Swee_82]

Righto. Time to bring the hate.

Last year's drubbing still burns. The talk of being "rolled". The skylarking after the tires. The revolting, disrespectful TV commentary. What raw insolence from a pack of over-hyped ninnies and wise men from the east.

I hope the boys are still hurting too. I hope they run the fatties off their feet come Sunday. I want Poey all over Cooper from the off. Sharpe schooling their line out. The back three to show 'em what real pace looks like.

I hope RG has clips from last year loaded onto their iPods and on heavy rotation.

Their dung heap. Sunday. Revenge.

Argh!!! I'm re-living it.

Please boys, make the bad thoughts go away

[Boomer]

Love the spite Boomer. Great work son
I'm with you bro

Thought you might be, mate.

Been a living hell for 12 months. Not a week goes by when I don't hear it.

[Rex Messup]

I'm putting in the long sprigs. The wife is going to get a really good rucking

[Lee Grant]

Force reserves
16 Nathan Charles
17 Kieran Longbottom
18 Sam Wykes
19 Tevita Metuisela
20 James Stannard
21 Alfi Mafi
22 Rory Sidey

[Stone Cold]

With 4 openside flankers in the side we should rip them apart at breakdown. Carn Force - Monster them!

[Rex Messup]

They will miss Braid more than they think and they have slugs at 8 and 6
We'll get belted the first 20 mins. If we're still in it after 20 we'll go close
Our bench is toilet. The benches will be cleared for this one. We'll struggle at the back end of the second 40.
I think we need to be 22 in front with 20 mins to go

[todd4]

I actually like the idea of JOC playing opposite Quade, they are not only good mates but have done a lot of training together with the Wallabies so no-one is going to be able to read him better than JOC. He can bunny-hop all he likes but I think JOC will be reading from the same page.

I notice Whittaker got the run-on spot ahead of Charles, may very well have been because of his good performance in Nowra as reported by LG. We certainly dont want to re-live the balls-up from last year when our line-out throw-ins were totally rooted.

Glad to see Cam gets a run, he probably feels he has something to prove and will want to put in a big one.

All in all, can't wait....BRING IT ON!

GO THE FORCE!!!!