Injuries to cut short Staniforth tour
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:40
The 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 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 West Australian sides 25-15 victory over Newcastle Falcons last Friday - the opening match of the tour.
The damage occurred on the same knee which sidelined the 91-match veteran from the final three rounds of the 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 after dislocating his shoulder during a line-out session at the teams new base at Hatfield on Sunday.
Both players will undergo precautionary MRI scans, but are expected to be ruled out for the remainder of the six-match tour.
Prior to their encounter with the Falcons the Force had already lost one of its stars, when flank Tamaiti Horua returned home for family reasons.
Horua's place in the starting line-up for the first up victory was taken by Queensland club recruit Filipe Manu, who played solidly in his first outing for the Force.
It is unknown whether Horua will rejoin the tour. A final decision should be known prior to the team's clash with Saracens at Old Albanians this Friday.
Meanwhile, Coach John Mitchell has named his team to play the Saracens Academy at Old Albanians on Tuesday.
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 halfback combination, with Australian schoolboy scrumhalf Justin Turner set for his first start in the No.9 jersey alongside Scott Daruda at flyhalf.
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 Western Force starting line-up after being named on the right wing.
Western Force: 15 Dion Berryman, 14 Caleb Brown, 13 Haig Sare, 12 Junior Pelesasa, 11 James Dougall, 10 Scott Daruda, 9 Justin Turner, 8 Filipe Manu, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Tom Murday, 5 Brent Murphy, 4 Valeni Tia Tia, 3 Troy Takiari, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Gareth Hardy.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 TBC, 19 David Pocock, 20 Chris OYoung, 21 James OConnor, 22 Dane Haylett-Petty.
Date: Tuesday, August 12
Venue: Old Albanians Sport Club, St Albans
Kick-off: 19.30 (18.30 GMT - 02.30 Wednesday, August 13 West Australian time)
