Western Force coach Richard Graham backs embattled Cameron Shepherd
Dale Granger From: The Sunday Times January 15, 2011 7:00PM
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WESTERN Force coach Richard Graham has rallied to support embattled star Cameron Shepherd, saying the winger will rise above drink-driving charges to produce his best rugby yet in this year's Super 15.
Just a month before the start of the expanded Super Rugby competition, Shepherd, 26, is awaiting confirmation of a court date, followed by an ARU tribunal to answer allegations of driving under the influence while his licence was suspended in December.
The Shepherd incident is not the first time the club has been forced to defend a reputation damaged by highly publicised misdemeanours. There has been quokka abuse on Rottnest Island; Matt Henjak breaking the jaw of teammate Haig Sare in a pub brawl, and assault and civil charges against Henjak during a tour of South Africa.
Shepherd, the club's leading try-scorer with 26, refused to comment on the incident, but Graham has dismissed fears the player might struggle to focus to produce his best rugby as the court date draws closer.
Last year, Shepherd was injured just before the season began, only returning midway through the competition, by which stage the club's campaign had floundered.
Graham believes Shepherd will rise above his troubled circumstances, saying: "Cameron is 100 per cent fit and focused. He's in great shape, there's no questioning his commitment to the club and he will produce his best season yet."
The Force will play trial matches against a Barbarian XV and Brumby Runners teams in Sydney on February 5, and the Waratahs and Junior Waratahs a week later.
Clearly, Graham has no intention of sidelining or shielding Shepherd ahead of the Force's first Super 15 game, against the Reds in Brisbane on February 20.
Graham is endeavouring to avoid the injury plague that crippled the club in the first week of battle last season.
"We're taking steps to minimise the number of collisions in training," he said.
"But the players are keen to get involved ... and our (New Year's) resolution was to be 100 per cent committed to everything we do."
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