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Nick Taylor - The West Australian on April 11, 2016, 1:29 am
Western Force injury woes have gone from bad to worse after the heartbreaking last-minute 20-19 loss to seven-times Super Rugby champions Crusaders at nib Stadium on Friday night.
The Force have been hit particularly hard in the front row.
Veteran prop and foundation member Pek Cowan broke his lower left arm in a tackle in the 17th minute and will be out for between six and 12 weeks which could end his season.
Wallabies hooker Nathan Charles dislocated his right shoulder in another tackle with 10 minutes remaining and lost complete feeling in his arm.
The dislocation was so bad it took 20 minutes to reset and it is not yet known how long he will be out.
It is a tough blow for Charles, who was pushing to regain form and on the comeback trail after a frustrating 2015. He tore a pectoral muscle from the bone during a scrum against the All Blacks two years ago.
Cowan’s injury will bring loosehead props Francois van Wyk and Chris Heiberg back into contention. Van Wyk made his first appearance this season from the reserves bench on Friday after dislocating a wrist in pre-season.
New signing, Ireland junior World Cup captain and former Leinster hooker Tom Sexton who moved from the Melbourne Rebels this year, is likely to be called into the squad for the home game against the Waratahs in two weeks if Charles does not recover. The Force have a bye next weekend.
Another option for coach Michael Foley is academy rake Harry Scoble.
Cowan and Charles join playmakers Jono Lance and Luke Burton, back-rower Chris Alcock and winger Marcel Brache on the Force’s injury list. Kyle Godwin should be ready to play the Waratahs and Ian Prior, who left the field with a knee injury on Friday, is also likely to be fit.
Flanker Brynard Stander trained last week after rupturing a bicep against the Chiefs two weeks ago but may not be ready to return.
Coach Michael Foley said he would not use the growing injury toll as an excuse for just one win in seven games that has the Force in last place on the Australian ladder.
“Bumps are part of the game and we have to look beyond that,” Foley said.
“We have a load of injuries, that’s the way it goes, but it doesn’t get any easier.”
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...njuries-mount/
oo - broken arm. knew it had to be bad when pek goes off.
So - Scoble or Sexton? Sexton has experience, which is something we sorely need, on the other hand, Scoble may be the next long term hooker?
any thoughts?
after watching Sexton play for the Gulls.... the computer says NO.... struggling at Prem far less SR...
The nedlands hooker is the best hooker in the Comp by a long way. Played Perth spirit. Hits like a steam train and carries the ball forward with aggression.
Sexton is a joke. Who recruited him??
so in a round about way - Scoble is to play, not sexton?
A speedy recovery to all our injured players. I fear our destiny and place in history with the Sunwolves is fast approaching.
When is Godwin due back or is he gone for the season?
Was on the bench in case last weekend
If only Tom Fern was coach - no injuries, no loses, no problems with money. Is there anything he cant do??
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa