Force wait on hurt Hill

[MI5_Dog]

Western Force coaches are sweating on a late fitness test on former All Black fly-half David Hill before finalising the side to meet the Sharks in Friday night's Super 14 finale.

Hill aggravated an old ankle injury in the win against the Lions in Johannesburg and then again in the loss to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

If he is ruled out, utility back Mark Bartholomeusz is expected to move into the playmakers role for the clash at Kings Park, Durban against a side that will be buoyed by their win over the Stormers.

Young winger Dane Haylett-Petty, who joined the squad on Saturday after Scott Staniforth was ruled out of the last two games with a neck injury, will join the reserves.

Other changes can be expected to the run-on side.

If Hill does not pass the fitness test he will have played his last game for the Force after joining on loan from Japanese club Toshiba when marquee signing Andre Pretorius tore his left hamstring from the bone, ruling him out for the season.

Hill has brought good organisation to the backline and his combinations with his backs have improved with every game since his late call-up.

He will be remembered for his dramatic after the siren drop goal that beat the Crusaders at ME Bank Stadium.
He also scored 23 points against the Lions in Johannesburg last week.

[WF1964]

Oh dear...................fingers crossed.

[palitu]

why wouldnt JOc go to 10? it isnt like we NEED to win this?

[BDAVEY]

why wouldnt JOc go to 10? it isnt like we NEED to win this?

exactly....... Batho just doesnt have the flare and execution for this job....

Turner 9
JOC 10
Harris 12
Cross 13
Iman 14
Cummins 11
Sheps 15

[jombi]

Put Hunt at 10.

[BDAVEY]

Put Hunt at 10.

is he south africa ??

[pieter blackie]

is he south africa ??

No He is playing club in the east

[TommyM]

Why don't people rate Bart at 10? I thought he was superb in the only game I recall him playing there this year (our pre-season victory over the Reds)

[James]

Yeah I reckon Bart is a good option. He has the experience you want in a 10 and if JO'C slots into 12 you've got the sheer talent to match him.

[Sheikh]

Is Sheps ready to play full-back? If he's not, keep Rabbit there; it's not his best position, but it's where the team needs him most.

[GIGS20]

Why don't people rate Bart at 10? I thought he was superb in the only game I recall him playing there this year (our pre-season victory over the Reds)

Bart played 10 sometime before Hill Arrived (after Harris was discovered not ot be an option) It wasn't great, but it was better than Harris. It must be remembered though that he wasn't behind the world class backrow we're sporting this week.

[WF2006]

Bart played 10 sometime before Hill Arrived (after Harris was discovered not ot be an option) It wasn't great, but it was better than Harris. It must be remembered though that he wasn't behind the world class backrow we're sporting this week.

Sorry to disagree GIGS, but I think you'll find that Bart didn't get a chance to play 10 as he had that neck injury in week 1, then we went with Harris (or a Harris JO'C combo) before Hill arrived. Happy to be proved wrong though.

[jombi]

Bart played at 10 against the reds in the trial match at MES.

I think Pocock was playing that day, not sure about brown though.

[travelling_gerry]

Brown did.

[Stone Cold]

Incidentally, why do media reports always state that Pretorius "tore the hamstring off the bone" rather than saying he injured his hamstring? Must admit it sounds cool...