SHEPHERD A WALLABY AGAIN

Emirates Western Force star Cameron Shepherd has been added to the Wallabies squad for the Tri-Nations series and in further good news for the Force, fellow winger Nick Cummins is on the cusp of his international debut after being invited to continuing training with the Australian team.

Shepherd and former Emirates Western Force player Drew Mitchell were today confirmed as the final two players in the Wallabies 30 man squad and will join the rest of the team this afternoon as they assemble in Brisbane ahead of next Saturday’s competition opener against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.

Cummins will also travel to Brisbane to train with the team and deputise for injured Reds winger Peter Hynes, who is currently unavailable due to problems arising from a knee injury. It has not been determined at this point as to when Hynes will be fit to return to training with the Wallabies.

Shepherds attacking potency and class will be a major addition to the Wallabies ahead of tough clashes against the Springboks and All Blacks.

It has been a frustrating past 24 months for Shepherd who has been out of international contention after breaking his leg playing for the Wallabies. The most recent of his nine Tests for Australia was in Brisbane and he now has the opportunity to make a triumphant return next Saturday.

Shepherd made a late entry into this year’s Super 14 due to a freak injury in the warm-up prior to round one but featured in five of the final six matches played by the Emirates Western Force and showed his ability at either wing or fullback.

The 26 year old has been playing for Sydney club Northern Suburbs and been in fine try scoring touch which prompted Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans to take a closer look at a potential return to the Australian team.

Shepherd joins fellow Emirates Western Force players Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman and James O’Connor in the Wallabies squad.

The Wallabies starting line-up for their opening match in this year’s Tri Nations will be announced in Brisbane on Tuesday.


http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,58690.html

7 Force men in the squad.
Well done.

Technically Shep already is a Wallaby while those already in the Squad waiting to debut aren't...