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Cross in contention
From Jim Morton in Montpellier, France
September 10, 2007
RUGBY league convert Ryan Cross has joined Australia's short-list of potential Rugby World Cup replacements for grounded wing Mark Gerrard.
Wallabies coach John Connolly today listed the Western Force centre among five candidates for the vacant spot in Australia's 30-man squad.
Gerrard's Rugby World Cup ended with his first touch of the ball in the 91-3 hammering of Japan in Lyon yesterday, rupturing the medial ligament in his left knee in a tackle.
Connolly said the replacement would be announced by tomorrow and would join the team in Cardiff by Friday, although he would not be considered for the pivotal pool B match against Wales.
Force full back/wing Cameron Shepherd remains the favourite to get the call, but New South Wales wing Lachlan Turner, Queensland wing Digby Ioane, Cross and Reds full back/wing and fellow league convert Clinton Schifcofske are also under consideration.
The three selectors - Connolly, Scott Johnson and Michael O'Connor - will decide after assessing the form of the candidates on recordings of recent Australian Rugby Championship matches.
Cross is the only centre in the group of five and his selection will be assured if selectors decide to beef up their midfield.
The former Sydney Roosters three-quarter was close to being chosen in the tour party in July after a solid, no-frills debut season for Force and Australia A.
Cross played outside centre in the Super 14 but predominantly inside centre for Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup.
The toe injury sustained by Adam Ashley-Cooper, who is in doubt for the Wales clash, also aids Cross's cause.
Ashley-Cooper started on the wing against Japan but covers the centres along with Scott Staniforth, while Lote Tuqiri is also seen as a back-up option to skipper Stirling Mortlock.
"Obviously if we pick someone to cover (Gerrard) like-with-like, it's someone that can play wing and full back, because Staniforth covers 12 for us, Adam Ashley-Cooper covers 13," Connolly said.
"What confuses us a little bit is that if Adam is out for an extended period of time, he was the first cover at 13 - that's in the planning."
Connolly admitted that Gerrard's loss significantly affected the balance of the Wallabies bench, particularly as he would prefer to revert to 5-2 forwards-backs split.
"Not having someone like Mark that covers wing and full back comfortably changes the balance of what you have to do," Connolly said.
Gerrard was doing his best to keep a brave face today at the Wallabies' Montpellier base.
"It's disappointing that I'm leaving the tournament after a minute - or not even a minute - but to say that, I'm very proud of being able to pull on that gold jersey in a World Cup, even if it was for a minute," he said.
"I got tackled from one side of my body, so someone had me from one direction and I've obviously gone in the opposite direction up the top.
"(I've) twisted around where my feet stayed put and as I've twisted around someone's tackled me from my left hand side and my body was pretty much a biscuit - I just crumbled straight down."
Agence France-Presse
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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