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Super flies Larkham, Mehrtens poised for Super 12 comebacks
Updated: Thursday March 22, 2001 11:47 AM
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Wallaby flyhalf Stephen Larkham is poised to make his first appearance of the year in Saturday's Super 12 clash between the ACT Brumbies and South Africa's Western Stormers. Larkham has been forced to miss the opening four rounds of the Southern Hemisphere's regional tournament because of a niggling hamstring but has been passed fit to play against the Stormers. Brumbies coach Eddie Jones said Larkham's return could not have come at a better time for the competition favorite after fullback Joe Roff damaged his ankle in last weekend's win over the Northern Bulls, forcing him out of action for a month. But Jones has still not made a decision on who will replace Roff at fullback, naming a 24-man squad for Saturday's match rather than a starting 15. "We'll make a decision later in the week depending on the balance of the rest of the team," Jones said. The Brumbies are currently in third position on the Super 12 table after three wins and a one-point loss from their four matches so far but Jones said his team could not afford to let their guard down against the Stormers, who have won just one of four games. "They are the most attacking of the South African teams and share a similar approach to the game as the Brumbies," Jones said. "The quality of their performances away from home is generally very good and so we have a big challenge on our hands." Mehrtens could return for the Crusaders New Zealand flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens could make his Super 12 comeback Friday after being named among the Canterbury Crusaders' reserves for the match against Australia's Queensland Reds. Mehrtens, the architect of the Crusaders last three Super 12 title wins, has not played all season because of a chronic groin injury but is likely to feature in the match against the Reds. He was on the bench for the team's last match against the Waikato Chiefs but did not take the field as the Crusaders coasted to a 40-11 victory. Having lost three of their first four games, the Crusaders need to win Friday's match to keep in the race for the title. The possible return of Mehrtens could not have come at a better time as the team has already been hit by the withdrawal of three All Blacks through injury. Flanker Reuben Thorne is expected to be out of action for up to a month after injuring his neck against the Chiefs, while hooker Mark Hammett is still struggling with a shoulder injury. Lock Norm Maxwell was ruled out after straining his groin at training this week. Crusaders: 15-Leon MacDonald; 14-Ben Blair, 13-Caleb Ralph, 12- Daryl Gibson, 11-Afato So'oalo; 10-Aaron Mauger, 9-Justin Marshall; 8-Brad Thorn, 7-Scott Robertson, 6-Sam Broomhall, 5-Chris Jack, 4-Todd Blackadder (captain), 3-Greg Sommerville, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Greg Feek. Tune cleared for Reds Australian test winger Ben Tune was cleared Thursday to play for Queensland Reds in Friday's Super 12 clash with the Crusaders. Tune, 24, was in doubt for the match after he infected his knee in an earlier match and spent two nights in a Brisbane hospital being treated with antibiotics. He was unable to fly to New Zealand with the rest of the squad Wednesday but passed a late fitness test Thursday morning before boarding the plane to face the three-times Super 12 champions. Tune's availability comes as a welcome relief to the Reds who have already lost inspirational captain John Eales with an Achilles tendon for the third match in a row. Reds: Chris Latham; 14-Ben Tune, 13-Daniel Herbert (captain), 12-Steve Kefu, 11-Damian Smith, 10-Elton Flatley, 9-Jacob Rauluni, 8-Toutai Kefu, 7-David Croft, 6-Matt Cockbain, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-Mark Connors, 3-Fletcher Dyson, 2-Michael Foley, 1-Nick Stiles. Randell to miss Highlanders' clash with Bulls A groin injury has forced former New Zealand captain Taine Randell to miss Saturday's Super 12 clash between Otago Highlanders and Northern Bulls. Randell strained a groin muscle in last week's dramatic one-point win over Western Stormers in Dunedin and although the injury is not serious, team officials were reluctant to risk him. With Randell ruled out, Kelvin Middleton was promoted to the starting lineup as part of a major reshuffle of the Highlanders. Four players, Tony Brown, George Leaupepe, Vula Maimuri and Carl Hayman, were all relegated to the bench with right wing Iliesa Tanivula, flyhalf Mark Urwin, lock John Blaikie and tighthead prop Kees Meeuws all coming into the starting team. Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson also trained with the team this week but was not considered for selection. The Highlanders are strong favorites to win Saturday's match after winning each of their two home matches this season while the Bulls are still looking for their first victory of the season after four straight losses. Highlanders 15-Brendan Laney; 14-Aisea Tuilevu, 13-Romi Ropati, 12-Pita Alatini, 11-Iliesa Tanilevu; 10-Mark Urwin, 9-Bill Fulton; 8-Samui Vahafolau, 7-Finau Maka, 6-Kelvin Middleton, 5-John Blaikie, 4-Simon Maling; 3-Kees Meeuws, 2-Anton Oliver, 1-Carl Hoeft. Koen returns for Cats against Hurricanes South Africa's Cats have made one change to their team to face New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes on Friday. Flyhalf Louis Koen replaces Clinton van Rensburg, who was in the side who beat New South Wales Waratahs 28-21 at Ellis Park last week. Koen is the competition's second highest points scorer this season with 55 from three matches. One other significant inclusion in the squad is Springbok scrumhalf Werner Swanepoel, who moves on to the bench. Swanepoel was set to start the season as the Cats' first choice for the position but a broken cheekbone in a pre-season match ruled him out of the first month of the competition. The Cats are fourth in the standings with three wins from four games, the only loss being to ACT Brumbies by 24-23 at Ellis Park. Number eight and Springbok skipper Andre Vos is named to play although he is struggling with flu. Cats: 15-Thinus Delport, 14-Wylie Human, 13-Japie Mulder, 12-Eugene Meyer, 11-Dean Hall, 10-Louis Koen, 9-Chad Alcock, 8-Andre Vos, 7-Andre Venter, 6-Rassie Erasmus, 5-Jannes Labuschagne, 4-Johan Ackermann, 3-Willie Meyer, 2-Leon Boshoff, 1-Marius Mostert.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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