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Force send SOS for scrum-half

Ouch: The Force’s Ian Prior walks off after receiving a red card during the round 11 Super Rugby match against the Chiefs.

Western Force coach Michael Foley may need to call up local scrum-half Justin Turner for next Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with the Blues in Auckland.

Foley’s No.9 stocks are depleted with Ian Prior facing suspension after being red-carded for a dangerous tackle in the 35-27 loss to championship favourites Chiefs last night.

Former All Black Alby Mathewson did not travel to New Zealand after injuring an ankle against the Stormers last weekend. If he does not recover Foley will be left with just Ryan Louwrens, who made his debut against the Chiefs.

Turner, currently playing with Perth club Associates, has had an injury-ravaged career. He made only 10 Force appearances after his 2010 debut, need-ing three major operations and sustaining a fourth serious injury to his right knee.

Foley may also have to bring in prop Guy Millar after Ollie Hoskins damaged his right ankle late in last night’s game and find a replacement for second-rower Adam Coleman, who injured his right shoulder.

Eastwood prop Millar has been training with the Force since Francois van Wyk picked up a season-ending pectoral muscle injury against the Reds.

Foley said he was “massively proud” of his side’s Herculean effort, playing more than 50 minutes with 14 men after Prior’s dismissal for a tip tackle on Chiefs winger Tim Nanai-Williams.

“When we lost Ian we went into a tailspin for 10 minutes. We gathered ourselves and what the guys did with 14 men on the field was pretty special,” Foley said.

“Once they regathered themselves I thought the character they showed was phenomenal.

“We could have actually stolen a victory, which was amazing. They were gutted because they didn’t win but the mood was positive. They are proud and they are fighting.”

Captain Matt Hodgson, who scored one of his side’s four tries, said players had tapped into deep reserves.

“Its tough playing with 14 men but the way the boys dug in when we were behind by 20 points, we kept firing,” Hodgson said. “We’ve got nothing to lose. We just had to front up. We’ve still got a lot to play for no matter where we are in the season. We’re just going to play for each other.”

The Force have now lost nine consecutive games, equalling their worst losing streak from the 2006 debut season, but the scoreboard did not tell the true story as an undermanned and outgunned side produced a truly gutsy effort.

It was a courageous display illustrated by the Force matching the Chiefs’ four tries. The Chiefs line had previously been crossed only eight times in nine games this year.

In last night’s other game, former Force captain David Pocock helped the Brumbies snap a two-game losing streak with a first-half hat-trick in their 31-18 win at home over the Highlanders.

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper has signed a two-year contract with European club champions Toulon.



Cooper, who has 53 Test caps, is expected to join Toulon after this year’s Rugby World Cup.