Force's Wallabies duo cut down by injury

Wed, Apr 26, 2017, 8:05 AM
AAP & Beth Newman
by AAP & Beth Newman
Dane Haylett-Petty is in doubt for the June series. Photo: Getty Images
Dane Haylett-Petty is in doubt for the June series. Photo: Getty Images

Star Western Force duo Dane Haylett-Petty and Ben McCalman are in danger of being ruled out of action for the June Test window after being cut down by injury.

Haylett-Petty is set to miss at least a month after tearing his hamstring in last week's loss to the Chiefs.

The 27-year-old underwent a second set of scans on Tuesday, with the Force's medical staff set to pore over the results before deciding on a rehabilitation plan.

It's been reported Haylett-Petty could miss up to 10 weeks, but Force officials don't think the injury is that serious.

McCalman has been ruled out indefinitely while he battles an ongoing shoulder issue.

The Wallabies enforcer broke his right shoulder twice last season while on Wallabies duties, and the problem resurfaced following his sole Super Rugby appearance this season in round 7.

The 29-year-old made it through the win over the Kings, but has been sidelined ever since with shoulder pain.

It caps a frustrating time for McCalman, who missed the first chunk of the season after undergoing surgery to fix a dislocated thumb.

McCalman has already consulted one surgeon about his latest shoulder setback, and he'll see another one in Melbourne for a second opinion.

Medical experts are unsure whether the damage is nerve related or structural, and McCalman won't play again until they can get to the bottom of his issues.

The injury setbacks mean McCalman and Haylett-Petty are both facing a race against time to play in the Wallabies' home fixtures against Fiji (June 10), Scotland (June 17) and Italy (June 24).

Winger Luke Morahan also appears set for a stint on the sidelines after suffering a fracture near his eye socket in the loss to the Chiefs.

Morahan will meet with a surgeon before determining whether he needs to have a plate inserted..

But the Force received a rare dose of good news on the injury front when they were told star winger Chance Peni might not miss the rest of the season after all.

The Force feared Peni was done for the year after he tore his groin in the win over the Kings.

But the damage wasn't as bad as first thought once the swelling subsided, and he appears likely to return at the tail-end of the season.

Lock Adam Coleman (calf) will miss Saturday night's home clash with the Lions, before returning for the May 6 encounter against the Sharks in Durban.

Flanker Angus Cottrell, who suffered a serious knee injury last year, is expected to return for the final two games of the season.

Prop Jermaine Ainsley (dislocated elbow) is out for the year.

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