Force blow as Godwin ruled out with injury

[wholetruth]

Nick Taylor and AAP The West Australian
May 21, 2014, 1:23 pm

Western Force have been hit by another big injury blow with young rising star Kyle Godwin out with knee damage.

The posterior cruciate ligament damage also rules out the inside centre from a Wallabies spot in next month’s three-Test series against France.

Godwin was widely tipped to win a spot in Ewen McKenzie’s squad that will be announced tomorrow based on his excellent form this season.

The Force have a number of key players on the injury list, including scrum-half Alby Mathewson and winger Luke Morahan, while Godwin missed last Saturday’s Super Rugby defeat against the Stormers.

Godwin’s international debut will now be on hold for the second time. A shoulder reconstruction cost him a place on last year’s Spring tour to Europe.

Force forward Ben McCalman, meanwhile, hopes his hot form this season will be enough to thrust him into a starting Wallabies role.

McCalman has been a key driver in the Force's stunning resurgence this year, with the 26-year-old combining brilliantly with Matt Hodgson and Angus Cottrell to create a formidable back row.

Rebels enforcer Scott Higginbotham and Waratah Wycliff Palu are also in the running for the starting No.8 role for the upcoming three-Test series against France, with coach Ewen McKenzie to name his 32-man squad on Thursday.

"I get along with them well," McCalman said of Palu and Higginbotham.

"In certain games they may pick certain combinations. Obviously [the] boys are carrying form from the Tests last year.

"Personally I feel like it's probably the best season I've had so far. I'll see what happens with selection."

[Alison]

Bugger x100000 :-(

[The InnFORCEr]

Poor Kyle, he'll be so hungry for a Wallabies (Spring) & RWC jumper next year you may as well lock him into your fantasy teams for all of next season!

[Moono74]

I posted this on GAGR prior to the Force v Stormers game.

"I wonder if Godwins knee injury was a result of Adriaan Strauss smashing him as he kicked the ball out at the siren to end the game. Was no point, Strauss was a tool!"

Do we think this is the cause of the injury? Godwin was fine for the whole game until the siren went and he got hit as he kicked by Strauss.

[Alison]

You could be right Moono. Was an ugly hit for sure - Godwin likely didn't see him coming as it was from the side as I remember.

[UNCLE BOOG]

"I wonder if Godwins knee injury was a result of Adriaan Strauss smashing him as he kicked the ball out at the siren to end the game. Was no point, Strauss was a tool!"

interesting if anyone can youtube a replay of it? I was beered-the-f-up by that stage of the game!

[hertryk]

You and me both.. I had trouble distinguishing who was who ...

[valzc]

So if that was the result of a vicious tackle did the Force place a complaint to SANZAR and did Hodgo & Foley whinge and cry and bitch that that cost us the game & it's taking away from the spectacle of good rugby by not letting us win?

[BeeJay]

Huge blow to our finals aspirations.

[jono]

well... f**k...

[SNOB]

Bugger! Now we really have to see what our depth is like. We can do it!
Hodgo is an inspirational leader and will bring the best out of any one, if there is a captain that can do it he's the Man.

[Kept One]

It is a shame for Kyle, I felt that he was a good chance to get picked for the Wallaby squad.

[James]

So how do we arrange our backline now? Same as against the Stormers or, if Morahan is back, do we put him at 14, move CTM to 12 and Brache to 13?

[shasta]

Gonna be a nervous couple of days waiting to see who's available this week. Still no goss re Cheese and his moon boot. The log jam at the top of the table makes a loss this week a season finisher, I'd reckon.

[valzc]

Gonna be a nervous couple of days waiting to see who's available this week. Still no goss re Cheese and his moon boot. The log jam at the top of the table makes a loss this week a season finisher, I'd reckon.

Shasta, Don't make me any more depressed!