Western Force’s horror run of injuries has continued, with Australia loose forwards David Pocock and Richard Brown set to miss at least six weeks of the Super 14 rugby season with injuries.
Pocock injured a finger in his left hand during the Force’s 24-15 home loss to the ACT Brumbies last Friday, while Brown dislocated his shoulder in the same match.
The setbacks follows a thigh injury to winger Cameron Shepherd, which has ruled him out for six weeks and a season-ending hamstring injury to flyhalf Andre Pretorius.
Utility back Mark Bartholomeusz has also been sidelined for at least another week with a neck injury while winger Nick Cummins is recovering from a foot injury.
“These injuries were unforeseeable and just freakish in nature,” Force general manager Mitch Hardy told Australian media on Wednesday. “The squad is being tested and the opportunity is now there for our younger and developing players to step-up and fill the breach.”
The Force meet the Hurricanes in New Zealand on Saturday.
The Queensland Reds also have their share of injury worries, with forwards Sean Hardman and Van Humphries ruled out for their home clash against the Crusaders on Friday.
Hardman sustained an ankle injury during their 30-28 loss to the NSW Waratahs while lock Humphries was recovering from a head injury.
The Crusaders, who won their first-round match against the Highlanders 32-17, made just one change to their bench, bringing in All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett to replace Peter Borlase. — Reuters