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Force duo in recovery race

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Ryan Cross: Primed for Wallaby selection

Western Force centres Ryan Cross and Scott Staniforth are each involved in a recovery race to be involved in Robbie Deans' first Australia Test squad.

Both players underwent surgery last week, which ended their involvement in the Force's Super 14 season.

Cross, who has not missed a game for the Force since his cross-code move from NRL club Sydney Roosters last year, has a cheekbone fracture and had a small plate inserted to stabilise the fractures around the eye socket, which were suffered in the one-point Round Twelve victory against the Chiefs at Subiaco Oval.

Meanwhile, Staniforth has undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, which has left him with a similar three-to-four-week recovery period.

The estimated time off leaves the centre partners facing a race to be fit for Australia's opening Test of the season, against Ireland in Melbourne on June 14, with Deans taking over the Wallabies' coaching duties on June 2.