McCalman takes a hit ahead of World Cup
Western Force No.8 Ben McCalman’s preparations for the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship campaign have taken a blow after he fractured a cheekbone in Friday night’s 33-20 loss to the Brumbies.
McCalman was taken to hospital after a head clash with teammate Zack Holmes in the first half of the defeat that kept the Force on the bottom of the Super ladder.
McCalman could be out for up to six weeks. The Wallabies go into camp on the Sunshine Coast on July 5.
The incumbent Australian No.8 may miss the Mandela Cup Test against South Africa in Brisbane on July 18 but his pros-pects for the World Cup in Britain in September have not been badly damaged.
He should be ready for the away Championship clash with Argentina on July 25 before matches against the All Blacks on August 8 and 15.
Force coach Michael Foley will miss the tough back-rower — who has 38 Test appearances — against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night.
“He won’t take part in that game, but it shouldn’t disrupt too much of his preparations moving forward into the World Cup campaign,” Foley said.
“He will be impacted going into the first part of the international season, but certainly not overall and certainly not into the World Cup.”
McCalman’s injury means Foley will shuffle his back five for the Rebels.
He is likely to bring Angus Cottrell into No.8 and start Steve Mafi at blindside flanker, with Adam Coleman and Sam Wykes, in his last game for the Force, in the second row.
Despite winning only twice this year, Foley will not experiment with any radical change to the game plan.
“You take whatever lessons there were out of the game we’ve just played ... you want to attack this last game and just make sure we’re fighting right to the finish line,” Foley said.
