SHEPHERD RULED OUT OF CHEETAHS CLASH

[RugbyWA]

Emirates Western Force fullback Cameron Shepherd has been ruled out of tomorrow night’s Investec Super 14 Week 2 clash with the Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval.

The 24-year-old has had soreness in his lower leg since last weekend’s loss to the Blues and was last night withdrawn from the second round fixture.

“Cameron has had some soreness in his leg and wasn’t able to take part in most of yesterday’s training session, so we’ve decided to pull him out of tomorrow’s game as a precaution,” said team doctor Mark de Cruz.

Shepherd’s omission paves the way for Drew Mitchell to return to fullback, where has played 14 matches for the WA side since coming to Perth in 2007.

21-year-old back Nick Cummins, originally named on the right wing for the Cheetahs clash, will switch to the left wing while Haig Sare has won a recall on the right wing, where he started last weekend’s loss to the Blues.

The Emirates Western Force will hold their ‘captain’s run’ session at Subiaco Oval at 10.45am WDST today.

The full revised team lineup for the match is as follows:

2009 Investec Super 14 Week 2
Emirates Western Force v Cheetahs
Friday 20 February, 2009
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick off: 7.45pm WDST

Emirates Western Force

1. Gareth Hardy
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Ben Castle
4. Pat O’Connor
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Tamaiti Horua
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Nick Cummins
12. James O’Connor
13. Ryan Cross
14. Haig Sare
15. Drew Mitchell

Reserves

16. Luke Holmes
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. Tom Hockings
19. Matt Hodgson
20. Chris O’Young
21. Josh Tatupu
22. Scott Staniforth

[Cookie]

good luck haig,hopefully he will make the most of his chances.Bad luck sheps,hope you get better soon.Injuries from round 1 will make round 2 interesting,especially for the tahs and the brumbies,with 3 ABs out for the chiefs and for the crusaders.May have to review my tipping

[Fullback]

Good to hear it's only as a precaution, the amount of kicking and running he had to do in the first round I'm not suprised.

[Thequeerone]

Like Cookie thought it was unfair how Haig was blamed for the lack lustre team performance - must have been his first full S14 game in a couple of seasons.

Depth wins S14.

[Stone Cold]

unlucky shep...looking forward to spanner coming on a bit earlier now

[robyn <3]

Shame, Cam! Get that ankle sorted and back out there for the Brumbies game. Staniforth stays on the bench while Haig comes in? Is that because Scott hasn't played in a while or what!?

[Thequeerone]

According to the West's Interview with Spanner he is looking for a slow reintroduction back into the game.

20 mins off the bench 1st week on Wing - gradually working up to 80 minutes at centre again. Must have been a horror injury.