Force lose Smith, Shepherd on track
NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
April 20, 2011, 6:26 am
Flying winger David Smith, strained a hamstring in scoring the second of his two tries in the 27-19 win and will miss Saturday's home clash with the Bulls.
However, the Force have a ready replacement in Cameron Shepherd, who is expected to be cleared to play this week after crashing on to his neck and head against the Waratahs.
In positive news, the Force's Wallaby flanker Matt Hodgson has re-signed for two more seasons.
An inaugural Force player, Hodgson, 29, a dual winner of the club's player-of-the-year award, has also signed for a year with the Australian Rugby Union.
Hodgson is still recovering from a shoulder injury after being dropped from a line-out against the Rebels but expects to be back for the clash against the Crusaders in two weeks.
He has bought a home in Perth and marries a Perth girl soon.
"I love Perth and it's good to sign another two years," he said.
"My first thoughts were to stay in Perth. It was a matter of things going to plan and they did. Any thoughts of going overseas were out on the back-burner.
"The Force gave me an opportunity back in the inaugural year and I thought I had to repay them.
"I've got a lot of faith in the team and if we keep our structures and the basis of our team together for a few more years big things are going to come."
He hoped that his re-signing and those of others like captain Nathan Sharpe and Ben McCalman would encourage young gun James O'Connor to stay.
O'Connor, the hottest property on the rugby market, is being chased by all the Australian Super Rugby franchises.
Coach Richard Graham was delighted Hodgson was staying.
"His quiet and committed approach has earned the respect of his teammates and he exemplifies what we're looking for in a player and a leader at the Western Force," Graham said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...herd-on-track/
