Cameron Shepherd gets the call up
Well done Shep, go well you deserve it :approve:
Dream call-up for Shepherd
By Peter Jenkins
September 11, 2007
AN ANXIOUS Cameron Shepherd was sitting at home in Perth last night when he got the phone call that changed his life.
He knew he was in the mix to replace the injured Mark Gerrard in the Australia World Cup squad and had undergone a medical earlier in the day.
But he was on tenterhooks as he played the waiting game, watching the clock until his selection was confirmed at around 5pm.
"I'm just really looking forward to getting over there and being part of the whole experience," Shepherd said. "I'm ecstatic. I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it.
"I've been a little bit sad watching the game take place and not being part of it."
Selectors gave five-Test veteran Shepherd the nod over Lachie Turner, Clinton Schifcofske and Ryan Cross.
"In the end he was the obvious choice," said John Connolly.
"He has been part of the squad for the past 18 months and only injury put him out of contention. I feel incredibly sad for Mark Gerrard but this is an opportunity for Cameron."
Shepherd's selection ends five months of frustration for the outstanding utility back.
He was arguably the form Australian back during the Super 14 playing for the Western Force before damaging his posterior cruciate ligament against the Brumbies. That knee injury cruelled his participation in the entire domestic Test campaign.
"It's something that's been playing on my mind for the past couple of months," he said. "It has been a very trying time and it has been pretty upsetting watching and not being involved in it."
He decided against surgery which would have ruled him out for 12 months. Instead he worked on strengthening the muscles around the ligament.
When Shepherd came back for Australia A he was down on confidence, but for the Perth Spirit in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship he was a standout and after five games is the top pointscorer with a total of 69.
"It will be a bit weird going back there now," he said.
Shepherd will hook up with the rest of the squad in Cardiff, but Connolly said he won't be considered for this Saturday's game.
Cameron Shepherd Called Into Wallabies Squad For RWC
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 2:59pm
Sportal & ARU
Cameron Shepherd has declared he is elated to be part of the Wallabies squad after being chosen to replace the injured Mark Gerrard.
The Western Force winger left Perth on Tuesday bound for Cardiff, where Australia plays Wales on Saturday, but Shepherd has revealed that his excitement over making the squad has come with a few nervous moments.
"Just stoked mate," Shepherd told Sportal. "It's been a pretty crazy few months missing out on the squad and now being in, so I'm a little bit nervous but really excited about the opportunity."
However, before packing his bags for Wales and France, Shepherd became the victim of coach John Connolly, a renowned practical joker, when he received the all-important call-up on Monday.
"John called me about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and played a bit of a joke on me saying that he was calling all the people that didn't make it and just thanking them for their patience during this time," Shepherd revealed.
"I got a little bit upset and then he said: 'I'm just joking mate, you're not one of them and you're coming over to France'."
"It wasn't very nice of him but it settled me down and settled the nerves, and he just told me that he's looking forward to seeing me over there and I'll see him in Cardiff in a few days time."
Ironically a knee injury cost Shepherd a spot in the original touring party, and while he admitted feeling 'very sad' for the outgoing Mark Gerrard (knee), he also was grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Wallabies World Cup campaign.
"To miss out was really upsetting and something that took a while to get over but it's just a great feeling now that I can get over there and be part of it."
Shepherd is also confident his own knee can withstand the demands of tournament rugby.
"I think I'm pretty close to 100 per-cent now. It still pulls up a little sore after games but it's nothing I can't deal with and I'm training fully and I feel fit and I feel healthy so I'm ready to go."
Shepherd admitted to being unsure of what role Connolly wants him to play in France.
"There's a lot of great players still over there and I guess I'll just find out more when I arrive," Shepherd said.
"I've just got to work as hard as I can at training and if I do get an opportunity, then great and, if I don't, then it can't be helped."
