Force coach Richard Graham still unsure on Willie Ripia return

[travelling_gerry]

Ben Papalia From: PerthNow March 31, 2011 10:53AM


WAITING IN THE WINGS: Willie Ripia is still recovering from a foot injury and is won't play for the Force this Saturday against the Rebels. Source: Getty Images

WESTERN Force coach Richard Graham still cannot say when star recruit Willie Ripia will return to the fray.

The former Hurricanes fly-half has struggled to overcome a nagging foot injury after injuring the tendon during a pre-season game.

The 25-year-old high-profile recruit trained this morning, but failed to convince the club's medical staff he was ready for Saturday night's clash with the Melbourne Rebels at nib Stadium.

"He either starts or he doesn't play,'' Graham said.

"He's trained well whilst we've been away (but) he hasn't really done anything under pressure in a team environment.

"He has to show us he can run in an unstructured environment when he's not thinking about it all the time.''

Ripia's absence means James O'Connor will start at No.10 while inside centre Gene Fairbanks returns after missing last week's huge loss to the Stormers.

Hooker Nathan Charles also replaces Ben Whittaker in the run-on side.

Meanwhile, long-serving RugbyWA Chairman Geoff Stooke has brought down the curtain on his remarkable 25 years of service to WA rugby.

During Stooke's tenure he helped engineer the significant increase in participation numbers across junior and senior competitions, and was also a key architect in securing WA's first Super Rugby licence in 2004.

"My time as Chairman has been a labour of love and I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to fill the role for such a period of time,'' Stooke said.

"Through rugby I have been able to work with some outstanding people and form friendships throughout Australia.''

In 1999 Stooke's services to the game were recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia and in 2000 he received the Australian Sports Medal for rugby.

His determination and success in securing a Super Rugby team in the west was further acknowledged with the WA Citizen of the Year Award (Sport) in 2006.

Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Alfie Mafi, Nick Cummins, Gene Fairbanks, David Smith, James O'Connor, Brett Sheehan, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sam Wykes, Tim Fairbrother, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan. Reserves: Ben Whittaker, Kieran Longbottom, Tom Hockings, Tevita Metuisela, James Stannard, Matt Brandon, Pat Dellit.


http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rug...-1226031382367

[theforceguy]

[WF1964]

I see you're having mixed feelings..

[LuvUnleashed]

Stop paying him and it'll come good, typical maori... only worried about his next boil up

[jono]

should his foot have been operated on?

[slomo]

this is getting beyond a joke...pretorius last season and ripia this year, thats a hell of a lot of cash, the club has shelved out in wages for NOTHING in return.......

[shasta]

should his foot have been operated on?

That's easy to ask. But diagnosis and treatment can make for difficult choices, with no easy or certain correct answer. Without getting too much into it, The ankles and feet contain 25% of the body's bones along with associated ligaments and tendons. I've had some personal experience and had alarm bells ringing for Ripia when I heard about the moon boot pre season.

[benny]

Since we've been in operation. We have had no luck with # 10s, weither that be for injuries / out of form / playing out of position or bad shopping / plus never given the chance

Lachlan Mackay - Injuries
James Hilgendorf - Injuries
Matt Giteau - Signed as a centre, played as fly.
Andre Pretrious - waste of time and money (did nothing for the club and was he for a holiday)
Wilie Ripia - still to make my mind up but same weeds are growing down this path as the pretrious one.
Name gone from me, the fill in last year (kiwi from wiakato) wasn't flash but did alright for the time here in perth... thrown in the deep end by mitchell.

Players who have left but never given the chance.
Scott Durada - not quiet there but have done a dam site better than the SAFFA and the KIWI combined, and now being a star in the Japan Super League for Kubota Spears, and still only 25 y.o.
Brock James, needless to say 49 caps in France for 700 plus points. Do the sums as many points as we (as a club) have put together in Super rugby. but given shown the door, only 29 years old so still a couple more years in those legs. we signed pretrious when he was 35, so they (WForce) cant give us that as an excuse.
Stefano Hunt, maybe a little too early to put on this list, but another who has come and gone.

The ones that got away.
Peter Grant
Quade Cooper
and the list can go on and on..

just a little sh1tty at the moment, that we have all positions covered, okay some are not quiet there, but a few more games under the belt and we could be a FORCE to be recogned with if we have get a bloody #10 on the field.

---------- Post added at 19:51 ---------- Previous post was at 19:43 ----------

just adding to this remember we signed Adam Clarke & also Caleb Brown both on performance based contracts, as soon as a long term injury to any of these two players occured there contract would be terminated. These two lads were only early 20s (of age) okay they were injury proned but when on the park were classy players

Why did we then sign Preterious for $500,000 plus for the year when he had more injuries than a nursing home, and not terminate his contract, with a one way trip home.

and we should be now doing the same to Ripia.. okay take us to court if you dont like it as the contract has changed, but nothing has changed from my view. your on the dollars, and have done NOTHNG for us, oh how good would it be that each and every one of us gets injured from work, no need for a compo case (and to go on our employment record for life) we can get the business to continue to pay us. thats whats happening here.....

okay ive had my rant and rave for the day, lets smash the rebels without ripia.

[brokendown gunfighter]

well if all the players had to sign a contract which stated if you didnt play,you wouldn't get paid,we would have a squad of.....
ZERO

[benny]

at least on the training park...Both Pretreious & Ripia are over here on a holiday -- certain about it !!

[AndyS]

Noted JO'C said on the Rugby Club that Pocock had surgery a couple of days ago, so a few more weeks for him then...

[Blackswan]

Want a holiday for a year or two that will cost you nothing in outlay ?

Sunny Perth has a great climate, wonderful beaches and surfing on your doorstep. Prime accomodation thrown in for free in Cottesloe so you can walk to the beach.

Interested ??

Then sign for the Western Force now.

Don't miss this golden opportunity for a well earned break whilst still getting paid your money !

[GIGS20]

Want a holiday for a year or two that will cost you nothing in outlay ?

Sunny Perth has a great climate, wonderful beaches and surfing on your doorstep. Prime accomodation thrown in for free in Cottesloe so you can walk to the beach.

Interested ??

Then sign for the Western Force now.

Don't miss this golden opportunity for a well earned break whilst still getting paid your money !

Full medical plan included




BTW it is a requirement of this position that you f#*k up one of your major joints, possibly for life........that might have an impact on your decision