Shepherd Vows To Bounce Back
Shepherd vows to bounce back as surgery puts career on hold
Article from: PerthNow
Nick Taylor, rugby writer
May 22, 2009 10:00pm
WESTERN Force star Cameron Shepherd faces another frustrating three months as he recovers from surgery that has put his Test career on hold.
But the exciting fullback's desire to pull on the Wallaby jumper has not diminished and he has the backing of national coach Robbie Deans in his decision to go under the knife again.
His latest setback came in Round 11 of the Super 14 season against the Bulls in Pretoria, a knee injury ruling him out of the last two games. It was the third serious injury to his left leg in three seasons.
In 2007 he damaged his left knee against the Brumbies - again in round 11 - but still managed to make the Wallabies World Cup squad and the following year, in just his first touch of the ball in the Test against France in Brisbane, he suffered an horrific ankle break and dislocation.
He made a sensational comeback to the Force with a hat trick of tries against the Brumbies in Canberra but admits he was not fully fit for the season.
On Tuesday he will have arthroscopy on the knee and two weeks later a surgeon will ``clean up'' the ankle, ruling him out of contention for the Wallaby No15 jumper this year.
It will be the third operation on the damaged ankle and he expects to need three months' recovery time.
``The last 10 months have been really frustrating,'' said Shepherd who will be in the last season of his three-year contract with the Force next year.
``It was frustrating knowing that I was not 100 per cent and knowing what I can do when I'm healthy. I felt like I was letting the side down and myself down by not being 100 per cent fit.
"I couldn't train properly and was not able to maintain my full fitness. I felt like I was nursing my body from one week to another just to get over the pain in the ankle.''
With the 2011 World Cup closing in, Shepherd has decided to get all the injuries and niggles cleared away so he can concentrate on the tournament in New Zealand.
``The ankle operation is not a serious reconstruction and I want to get back to full health and get my head right for next season so there are no excuses,'' he said.
``Carrying an injury for the next few years will not be doing anyone any good.
``I've got to look at the big picture and when I spoke to Robbie Deans the other day he was on the same wavelength as me. He agreed with what I'm doing and said I had his support.
While he was impressed with some of the things I had done this season he realised there was a problem.''
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005403,00.html
