Hodgson Gets RWC Call Up

[Darren]

Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and NSW Waratahs winger Lachie Turner have been added to the Wallabies 30-man squad at the Rugby World Cup.

The pair are being flown to New Zealand to join the team as replacements for Drew Mitchell and Wycliff Palu respectively.

Both Mitchell and Palu have succumbed to hamstring injuries, with Mitchell straining his during yesterday’s 68-22 win over Russia which ended the pool phase.

An MRI scan this morning in Nelson confirmed that the strain Mitchell suffered yesterday will not allow him to return in time to participate again in the tournament. He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks after suffering a grade one strain to his left hamstring.

Palu departed New Zealand in similar circumstances last week but Australian team management held off naming a replacement in order to ascertain the Wallabies’ requirements heading into the elimination phase.

Turner and Hodgson were both involved with the Wallabies earlier in the year, as members of the original 40-man Australian squad, and then as part of the trimmed down squad which contested and won the Tri Nations.

The 24-year-old Turner, who made his debut against France in 2008, has played 14 Tests for the Wallabies, the most recent of which was as a replacement during last year’s stunning 59-16 win over the then-Six Nations champions France in Paris.

Hodgson is the veteran of six previous Tests, with two caps earned this year during the Tests against Samoa and South Africa in Sydney.

The 30-year-old openside flanker won the Western Force Player of the Year award consecutively in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The two replacements will join the Wallabies in Wellington tomorrow night.

[joblot]

At last Hodgo gets some reward for his outstanding efforts.

[Tazzmania]

Unlikely to get much game time, but well deserved. Matt good on you

[Burgs]

"Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and NSW Waratahs winger Lachie Turner have been added to the Wallabies 30-man squad at the Rugby World Cup.

The pair are being flown to New Zealand to join the team as replacements for Drew Mitchell and Wycliff Palu respectively."

So Hodgson on the Wing and Turner into the Backrow???

[jono]

something like that!

[Darren]

"Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and NSW Waratahs winger Lachie Turner have been added to the Wallabies 30-man squad at the Rugby World Cup.

The pair are being flown to New Zealand to join the team as replacements for Drew Mitchell and Wycliff Palu respectively."

So Hodgson on the Wing and Turner into the Backrow???

... just might have been the editors' fault there swapped names to put the most important first

[hertryk]

Hogdo ill make us all proud..anyone know if Sharpie is in to face the Boks?

[Sheikh]

"Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and NSW Waratahs winger Lachie Turner have been added to the Wallabies 30-man squad at the Rugby World Cup.

The pair are being flown to New Zealand to join the team as replacements for Drew Mitchell and Wycliff Palu respectively."

So Hodgson on the Wing and Turner into the Backrow???

Hodgson replacing Samo

[GAFFA]

So happy for hodgo should have been there from the start! I can't believe the man love on all the websites for Beau Robinson these ppl acting like if you win a super title it's you god given right to be given a Wallabies Jersey. Hodgo is twice the player. We should have a all force back row lol
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[Fullback]

Great news for Hodgo.

[BDAVEY]

Sharpie should get the nod ahead of Vickerman, but Vickerman is his pin up boy... ShARPIE FOR HIS EXPERIANCE AT LEAST

[Ecky]

Why didn't they pick one less lock and one more loosie (Hodgo) in the first place?

Ben Mac can cover lock, as well as 8 and 6. At a pinch 7. Hodgo could have covered 6 & 7 from the outset.

Shapre has been pretty damn good for the entire year so far and couldn't possibly drop the ball and/or fall over as much as, um, well, some that have been selected in RWC matches before him.

[shasta]

Why didn't they pick one less lock and one more loosie (Hodgo) in the first place?

.

The question is more "why did you pick an injury prone one dimensional 8 who goes missing in action against the hard teams when you already had Samo? ( & McCalman)". He is just as devastating a runner and defender, can also cover 6 and lock at a pinch and turns up ready to rumble every week. He gives another line out option and can even cover the wing in emergencies.

I'd just love to see the selectors asked that in light of our ruck performance against Ireland. 80 minutes of Rugby and not a single turnover.

Without Palu (in favour of Hodgson) there would have been complete flexibility in the back row to cover all contingencies.