Force sweat on Pocock's fitness
Both the Wallabies and Western Force will be hoping for positive news when star flanker David Pocock finds out the extent of his knee injury on Monday.
Pocock limped off early in the Force's 39-12 Super Rugby loss to the Sharks on Saturday night and was put in a leg brace after the game, with medical staff unsure about the extent of the injury.
The 22-year-old underwent scans on Sunday and will get the results on Monday, as will outside centre Mitch Inman who has an elbow problem.
Should Pocock be ruled out for any length of time it would be a major blow for the winless Force, who rely heavily on the 104kg flanker's ball-poaching skills and physicality around the ground.
And with the World Cup just six months away, the Wallabies will be praying the injury won't greatly affect his lead-up.
"It's where depth comes into it," Force coach Richard Graham said of the prospect of losing Pocock.
"We'll assess where we're at ... and make decisions early in the week."
Graham predicted Inman, who dislocated his elbow, could be out for two to three weeks.
To add to the Force's woes, utility back Rory Sidey will face a SANZAR judicial hearing on Monday night after being sent off for a dangerous spear tackle.
Sidey upended Odwa Ndungane in the 18th minute, the Sharks winger lying on the turf in pain for several minutes before being stretchered off.
Although Sidey lifted Ndungane in the tackle, he could be spared harsh punishment as Force team-mate Gene Fairbanks contributed to the awkward landing.
"Maybe if it had been a single tackler, the outcome mightn't have been as bad," Sharks coach John Plumtree said.
"Looking at the tackle, I think the guy that went high (Fairbanks) made the incident look worse because of the fact that he brought him down."
The Force trailed by just 10 points with 10 minutes to go despite being reduced to 14 men in the 18th minute.
But the Sharks ran in three tries during the final minutes to earn the bonus-point win.
Sharks winger JP Pietersen looked set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after injuring his knee.
"It looks like a meniscus tear," Plumtree said.
"It could be between four or five weeks as the best scenario, worst scenario could be eight weeks."
That spells good news for the Melbourne Rebels, who host the Sharks on Friday night.
Ndungane could also struggle to play after suffering a suspected concussion in the fall.
The Force will look to reverse their fortunes in Saturday night's home clash with the Blues.
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