Force need Faulkner to cover for Cowan

[travelling_gerry]

NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
May 23, 2011, 6:52 am

Newly-signed front-rower Tetera Faulkner could be a shock inclusion in the Western Force squad to New Zealand after Wallaby prop Pek Cowan was ruled out for the rest of a season with a broken cheekbone.

Cowan had an operation yesterday to repair the damage caused when he clashed heads with hooker Nathan Charles just two minutes into the frustrating 13-all draw with the ACT Brumbies on Saturday.

Faulkner's move to the Force was only announced five days ago and he was not due to join his new teammates until after the Sydney Shute Shield competition had ended.

But the loss of Cowan and Force rookie prop Paul Alo-Emile preparing with the Australian under-20 squad for the Junior World Cup has left Force front-row stocks running low.

The club was yesterday trying to rush through Faulkner's contract and medical clearances before the side leaves for the two games against the Hurricanes and Highlanders.

Faulkner, 22, is in the NSW Waratahs academy and plays for Southern Districts in the Shute Shield. He has played Australian schoolboys, under-19 and under-20s.

An injury cloud also hangs over fly-half Willie Ripia, who left the field early in the second half of Saturday's game with a calf injury.

Ripia has clearly not been playing at 100 per cent and his kicking game has come up short since he made his round-eight debut after nine weeks on the sideline with a foot injury.

In a sad indictment on the Force, coach Richard Graham could only describe it as better than a loss.

It was a game that was there for the taking by his side and there was scant consolation in statistics that show they were the better side.

The Force finished with more than 60 per cent of possession, but that climbed to an astonishing 78 per cent midway through the second half as they camped in the opposition half.

They should have put the game out of reach of the visitors but once again were unable to convert possession and territory into points.

Graham admitted his side should have made more use of the ball.

"There's going to be a lot of questions about possessions and territory but at the end of the day unless you build pressure by holding onto the ball, it's not really the pressure that's ultimately going to lead to points," he said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ver-for-cowan/

[GIGS20]

Great time to get the lad over, blood him before the end of the season when results don't matter and we'll know if we have to find somebody else!

[AndyS]

What is the story with Cruze Ah-Nau? He seems like he has been in the academy forever, which he probably has. Is he injured, still not ready,....?

[James]

He was having knee problems in pre-season. I don't recall seeing him on either team sheets that the Force 'A' played as curtain raisers. I would guess still injured.

[Rex Messup]

The academy props looked pretty 'ard to me. Perhaps they should get a shot at the big time?

[theforceguy]

What is the story with Cruze Ah-Nau? He seems like he has been in the academy forever, which he probably has. Is he injured, still not ready,....?

Mate I think he is way to small

But where is Paul Alo-Emile

[Rucking Good]

Pauli is with the Aussie 20s off to Italy for the junior world cup so out until the end of June?? Cruze is still injured and has had neck issues after being twisted in a pre season game after the ref blew the whistle and the rest of the Academy props are too young. Problems all round really

[James]

Cruze is practically the same dimensions as Pek Cowan according to this year's linebreak. Plus he probably could put on a few extra 'natural' kgs as he's only about 21.

[shasta]

Mate I think he is way to small

He's 112kg. Dunno what K-Bomb was in his academy days but he was only 110kg in his first year in the senior squad and is 113kg of muscle now.

[GIGS20]

He's 112kg. Dunno what K-Bomb was in his academy days but he was only 110kg in his first year in the senior squad and is 113kg of muscle now.

Yeah but Kieran's a Rocky boy, that's 113kgs of pure concentrated street smarts!