By Justin Chadwick
The Western Force have become just the second Australian team to post a win over a New Zealand opponent this season after beating the Highlanders 30-17 in Perth.
The Force ran in three first-half tries to lead 24-3 at the break of Saturday night’s match, and they withheld a short-lived second-half fightback to secure the vital victory in front of 8293 fans.
But Force coach Simon Cron expressed his concern for Ollie Callan after the flanker was taken to hospital with a neck injury.
Callan was injured in the opening minutes of Saturday night’s 30-17 win over the Highlanders when his neck got compressed while making a tackle.
The 22-year-old was in immediate pain following the hit, and he was assessed by medical staff for several minutes before being stretchered off.
Callan was taken to hospital for further assessment, and Cron is unsure what the prognosis is.
“It was really hard contact. It looked a little bit like compressed,” Cron said.
“We’re worried about him.
“We love our boys, and you care for them and it’s hard when they get hurt.
“Seeing Ollie go down so early, in the coaches’ box there was genuine concern, and you could see it in the player group.
Ollie Callan of the Force is stretchered from the field during the round 6 match.Credit: Getty
“And it’s hard because the players then need to put their head back in the game.
“We’ll follow up on Ollie and make sure he’s OK.”
It marks the second week in a row that the Force have been dealt a serious injury scare, with flyhalf Jake Strachan suffering a worrying concussion against the Waratahs.
Strachan was allowed to return to the field after passing an independent HIA test, but he rapidly deteriorated and was subbed off at halftime once the coaching staff saw first-hand the concussion symptoms.
The playmaker, who was so concussed he didn’t communicate properly with teammates while out on the field, is set to miss at least three weeks.
The Force work to the try line against the Highlanders.Credit: Getty
Winger Toni Pulu is also set for a stint on the sidelines after his head banged heavily into the turf early in the win over the Highlanders.
But in a dose of good news, captain Michael Wells made it through the full match in his first appearance since recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
“We fast tracked the plan a little bit,” Wells said.
“It was supposed to be 50 minutes and then we build up. It’s comforting knowing I can get through an 80.
“So I think that’s probably the plan going forward. As much as I can do it, I’m going to do it.”
The win over the Highlanders moved the Force (3-5) from 11th to eighth on the ladder.
The Force take on the sixth-placed Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday.
Cron’s men will be eager to make amends for their round-two flop against the Reds in Melbourne, when they were pumped 71-20.
AAP
