INJURIES LIKELY TO CUT SHORT TOUR FOR STANIFORTH, WYKES

[RugbyWA]

The Emirates Western Force has suffered a double blow of injuries after completing the first week of its five-week development tour of England.

Veteran centre Scott Staniforth and Australian Under 20’s lock Sam Wykes have almost certainly seen their last action on tour and are likely to return home to Perth this week after succumbing to injuries over the weekend.

Staniforth damaged cartilage in his knee during the WA side’s 25-15 victory over Newcastle Falcons in Saturday morning’s (WST) opening tour clash.

The damage occurred on the same knee which sidelined the 91-match veteran from the final three rounds of the 2008 Super 14 season.

Wykes, who was listed as one of the team’s best in the 10-point win over Newcastle, joined Staniforth on the casualty list yesterday after dislocating his shoulder during a lineout session at the team’s new base at Hatfield.

Both players will undergo precautionary MRI scans but are expected to be ruled out for the remainder of the six-match tour.

Prior to Saturday morning’s clash, the WA side had already lost one of its stars when flanker Tamaiti Horua returned home for family reasons.

Horua’s place in the starting lineup for the first up victory was taken by Queensland club rugby recruit Filipe Manu, who played solidly in his first outing for the club.

It is unknown whether Horua will rejoin the tour however a final decision should be known prior to the team’s clash with Saracens at Old Albanians this Saturday (WST).

Meanwhile, Coach John Mitchell has named his team to play the Saracens Academy at Old Albanians early on Wednesday morning (1.30am WST, 6.30pm Tuesday 12 August kick off local).

Matt Hodgson will skipper the side, while props Gareth Hardy and Troy Takiari will see their first action of the tour.

Mitchell will also try a new-look halves combination with Australian Schoolboys scrumhalf Justin Turner set for his first start in the number 9 jersey alongside Scott Daruda.

A new midfield pairing of Junior Pelesasa and Haig Sare (outside centre) will also be trialed.

Reds recruit Caleb Brown will make his first appearance in the Emirates Western Force starting lineup after being named on the right wing.

Emirates Western Force v Saracens Academy

Tuesday 12 August, 2008

Old Albanians

Kick off: 6.30pm (1.30am Wednesday 13 August WST)
Emirates Western Force
1. Gareth Hardy
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. Valeni Tia Tia
5. Brent Murphy
6. Tom Murday
7. Matt Hodgson (c)
8. Filipe Manu

9. Justin Turner
10. Scott Daruda
11. James Dougall
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Haig Sare
14. Caleb Brown
15. Dion Berryman

Reserves
16. Luke Holmes
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. TBC
19. David Pocock
20. Chris O’Young
21. James O’Connor
22. Dane Haylett-Petty

More...

[benny]

Young team and well worth seeing the write up. but love the look of the bench..

[bort]

bit different to most of the lineups we saw during the season!
sounds like staniforths career could be very close to winding up with such a dodgy knee

[lara93]

poor spanner
he was so hoping to make the wallabies tour squad!

[force addict]

ouch for both poor Wykes and Spanna. definitely not what should be happening pre season. hope they rest up and are better and stronger for the 2009 season

[Thequeerone]

Matt Hodgson certainly provides value - hopefully we'll get to see more of him next year - A Book anyone ?

[robyn <3]

looks like more new guys, which cannot be bad for rugbywa.
thats really bad news for spanna and wykes. both were excellent this season, get better soon guys!

i dont know about anyone else, but im quite excited about justin turner! from what i have heard (in other words, not much) hes a good player. a WA scrummie! is exactly what we need... who does he play for?

[laura]

Good to see they are blooding some new players and trying out different combinations now, while they have the chance and are playing formiddable oponents.

Captain on the bench

Crap news for Spanner and Wykes, better the injuries occur now than in the Super14 season though, gives them a much better chance at a successful recovery!

Hopefully Horua makes a return to sheep & goat herding and manages to fit a little playing time in this week.

[goony]

apparently wykes needs a shoulder reconstruction so he may not be available next year