Staniforth ruled out

[WF2006]

Poo!

Staniforth ruled out
By Jim Morton
September 27, 2007 INJURY ravaged Australia is down to its last fit back after centre Scott Staniforth was ruled out of Saturday's World Cup match against Canada.

Staniforth has succumbed to a shoulder injury he sustained in Sunday's 55-12 win over Fiji in Montpellier.

His withdrawal has forced a major backline reshuffle for the Wallabies' final Pool B match against the Canucks in Bordeaux.

Chris Latham comes off the bench to start his fourth straight World Cup match at fullback, pushing Cameron Shepherd onto the wing.

Lote Tuqiri moves from the wing into the centres, joining Adam Ashley-Cooper who takes Staniforth's No.12 jersey.

Matt Giteau, who the selectors were desperate to rest, now has been promoted to sit on Australia's bench and cover several backline positions.

The largely second-string Wallabies are expected to make easy work of the Canadians but the latest injury puts extra pressure on their preparations for a likely quarter-final against England on October 6.

Staniforth joins veteran playmaker Stephen Larkham (knee infection) and captain Stirling Mortlock (shoulder) on the sidelines while rookie five-eighth Berrick Barnes has been rested to overcome a quad niggle to be right for the Marseilles quarter-final.

Larkham is aiming for a semi-final return but there are no guarantees he will turn out for the Wallabies again.

The 102-Test flyhalf was released from hospital and is moving around on crutches.

He underwent a second arthroscopy in eight days on Monday after contracting an infection from the initial surgery in Montpellier.

[Darren]

Awww... bum!

Here's hoping they'll all be fit when it counts...

[Jehna]

Damn it...i would have liked to have seen Sheps play fullback. Who else do we have instead of Gits? hmm no one...damn it...he really doesn't want to play. Poor Stanners....he's not going to get much of a chance to play after this game...well..actually given the injury list he may end up play prop for all we know...

[JediKnight]

Lote & 2Dads in the centres? They'll probably run in a plethora of tries agains weak opposition & start believing their own hype again.

[Jehna]

I missed the whole 2dad's joke jedi...wtf!?

[James]

A hyphenated last name Ashley-Cooper. So he has too dads one whos last name is Ashley and one whos last name is Cooper. I think its supposed to be a joke, not sure though.

[JediKnight]

Well done James....not sure who originated the joke but it's still funny & apt for this Eastern States pretender!

[Jehna]

mm i thought it might be something like that....though i'm not sure that is all that logical

[Thequeerone]

Stanners at 12
Mitchell at 14
Sheps at 15

Gitts gets the day off

Sharpie at 5

and guess who will be there to cheer em on watch out for Spirit Jersey

[shasta]

Damn it...i would have liked to have seen Sheps play fullback. Who else do we have instead of Gits? hmm no one...damn it...he really doesn't want to play. Poor Stanners....he's not going to get much of a chance to play after this game...well..actually given the injury list he may end up play prop for all we know...

IF the game is safe I reckon Hoiles might get a run in the backline. Huxley will do OK at fly-half, played there plenty and his form has been great since moving back to Canberra. That was one of the reasons for putting him in the squad considering the selection of Berrick Barnes, I'd guess.
When the changes come don't be surprised to see either Shep or Latho get a run at fly-half with Huxley to wing or FB. They will leave Gits collecting splinters if possible.

[gustafsl]

So now Tuqiri has absolutely no excuse for not getting a try or at least a tonne of line breaks (unless of course Canada holds them to a lower total). No more excuse the ball didn't go wide enough or they went to the other side. He's in the prime spot and if he really is one of the best players in the World he should be able to get through the Canadian line at least a couple times.

[jargan83]

like a hot knife through butter

bummer about stanners though

[Burgs]

Roll out the vBook on that one Gerry!!!

[The InnFORCEr]

mm i thought it might be something like that....though i'm not sure that is all that logical

It's not always logical but in my case it is.

Born with Dad's surname Johnstone
Parents split before I started school
Mum met step Dad
I was enrolled at school with step Dads name of Summers
Mum and step Dad married
After leaving high school I wanted both names as I am last male Johnstone in family etc
I had to use both names for a year and my Birth Certificate was changed as i was entitled to both names, thus Matt Johnstone-Summers the first!!!



I was really looking forward to seeing spanner get a full game up but it will be interetsing to see how everyone performs under these circumstances.

Last chance Lote!

Wallabies by only 35 for me

[Burgs]

TIF Two-Dads has a bit of a ring to it