Force in limbo as more ash hits

Posted June 15, 2011 22:21:00

The Western Force will consider taking a train to Melbourne for Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Rebels if their flight to the Victorian capital is cancelled.

The Force's scheduled flight to Melbourne on Thursday morning is in danger of being postponed as more volcanic ash makes its way into Australia's airspace.

Force coach Richard Graham said the Perth-based franchise was considering several contingency plans, one of which involved catching a train to Adelaide and then flying to Melbourne from there, or catching a train direct to Melbourne.

"We'll walk," Graham said with a laugh when asked what other options were left.

"No seriously, we're keen to get there, so if we have to get the train overnight and fly from Adelaide, we're exploring everything because we're very keen to get there and play on Friday night.

"At the end of the day, we want to finish the season well and sitting here in Perth isn't going to give us the opportunity to do that."

Graham said the Force were not interested in calling the game a draw and would also consider flying to Melbourne on Friday morning if all flights were cancelled on Thursday.

Star Wallabies flanker David Pocock will captain the Force for the first time in Friday night's clash.

Pocock will take the reins from regular skipper Nathan Sharpe, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.

And with winger Nick Cummins also out with a leg injury and James O'Connor suspended, Alfie Mafi, outside centre Mitch Inman and Matt Hodgson return to the run-on side, with Cameron Shepherd and Willie Ripia named on the bench after their recent injury problems.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000, wa, perth-6000

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Cipriani still in limbo with Rebels

Posted May 31, 2011 17:22:00

Danny Cipriani's management are meeting with Melbourne Rebels officials to try and resolve a dispute between the Super Rugby club and the star player.

The English five-eighth was left behind from the Rebels' recent two-match tour of South Africa after repeated off-field disciplinary breaches.

Assistant coach Damien Hill said whether Cipriani would be considered for a home return on Friday night against the Stormers depended on the club reaching a satisfactory resolution with his management.

"The administration is in talking with Danny's management at the moment regarding his availability for this week," Hill said.

"It's not ideal, but that's just the way it is at the moment.

"You'll find out more about that tomorrow when we'll be announcing the team.

"There are issues there that need to be resolved and that's being handled by the administration."

Hill refused to elaborate on what Cipriani or his management needed to do to convince the club he should be allowed to play again.

Cipriani has not played for the Rebels since breaching a team pact following the loss to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on April 30.

Hill acknowledged the constant spotlight on the 23-year-old's off-field troubles had made the Rebels' inaugural year tougher.

"It's a distraction and I'd be lying if I said we couldn't have done without it," he said.

"But when you have any sort of club set-up where you've got 30-plus players, all new, a third of which are foreign, you're going to have issues that arise."

He said even if the Rebels' administration cleared Cipriani, there was no guarantee the match committee would select him.

On a positive note, hooker Adam Freier will finally represent the bottom-placed Rebels for the first time on Friday night, after recovering from back surgery, then a hamstring injury.

"It's been a long road and the timing of the year is insignificant as far as what the outcome will be for the season, but these three games mean absolutely everything to me," Freier said.

"Making it back so far, it's happy days for me at the moment."

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

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