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Mitchell's exile made him hungry
By James Hooper
August 10, 2008 REBORN Australia full-back Drew Mitchell has revealed how a 12-month exile from international rugby helped rejuvenate his Test career.
Banished to the international wilderness in 2006, Mitchell has overcome a bout of second-year syndrome to emerge as the man to step into the Wallabies' cursed custodian role.
Mitchell's revival comes as Australia prepare for the dreaded South African leg of the Tri-Nations, where the Wallabies must play Tests in Durban and Johannesburg.
New coach Robbie Deans must overcome the damning statistic that Australia have failed to beat the Springboks at home since a one-point win in Durban in 2000.
Deans is expected to appoint Mitchell as the Wallabies' third full-back in four Tests when the national squad assembles in Sydney for a two-day camp starting next Tuesday.
Mitchell credits his revival as an international footballer to the 12 months he spent as a Test outcast after a stellar debut season in 2005.
"It was a bit of a wake-up call that I couldn't just keep going along relying on what I'd already done. I had to keep working," Mitchell said.
"For me, things went pretty well in 2005 and I was pretty comfortable but it all came pretty quickly. At that stage, I guess I was somewhat immature in terms of being a professional football player.
"I thought that natural ability was going to keep getting me in the position that I wanted to be in and I guess that was a naive outlook on Test rugby.
"I know now that you've got to keep putting in the work to get in the position that you want to be in.
"It was tough at the time, I was pretty disappointed in myself."
The Wallaby flyer will become the third player this season to be handed the No.15 jumper after injuries ruled out both Cameron Shepherd and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
First-string choice Shepherd suffered a broken leg against France in Brisbane before makeshift replacement Ashley-Cooper broke a bone in his hand against New Zealand in Auckland.
"I played the second half against the All Blacks in New Zealand and it was great to get back out there and get some good time in Test footy," Mitchell said.
"It's exciting times within the Wallabies set-up at the moment, everyone's really excited about being there and getting involved.
"I used to always prefer full-back because I was more comfortable there than on the wing. Now I've played so much in both positions I don't really mind either way because they're both interchangeable."
A decision on whether Wallabies blindside flanker Rocky Elsom will make the trip to South Africa is expected on Tuesday. Elsom injured his foot in the opening Test.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html
go drew!
BOKKE“Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White
get some fire inside you and youll go out there and play to prove yourself. i expect some brilliant rugby from him next saturday. no pressue
i still dont want him at fullback though. queensland people, does hynes play well in a 15? ahahah ill rephrase that, does he play better than DREW does in 15?
"I used to always prefer full-back because I was more comfortable there than on the wing. Now I've played so much in both positions I don't really mind either way because they're both interchangeable."
THANK GOD HE HAS GOT OVER THIS FULLBACK THING! your a winger drew.. and a damn good one at that!
good luck![]()
A kick in this game is like a rather nasty alcoholic shooter, only as good as it's chaser...
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
i would prefer him on the wing! he doesn't have the kicking game for fullback, that being said, were running out of options!
he really dropped out of favour there for a while but its good to see him get another crack at it!
I dont think he dropped out of favour, so much as drop out of form. Now he is back in form and has the determination, motivation and ability to see him go far. He is a much better winger and he definately has one kicking leg better than the other, that being said he is pretty much our only option for fullback. Would like to see how Hynes goes at fullback though because he does seem to love his kicking and when he pins his ears, he really gets going...the makings of a good fullback I reckon.
hynes, like mitchell though does make a fair few mistakes, there not bad mistakes in that there usually the result of having a go which i dont mind at all.
with lote having the other wing nailed down, hynes & michell are really the last two standing, neither fills me with confidence at fullback, espeacially in south africa on hard grounds in altitude our kicking game is going to take a battering.
it might be worth letting giteau defend at fullback just for the kicking factor!
good to see james hoopers up there with current news..... wasn't this same story circling before the 07 RWC?
I reckon Cross to 12, Barnes to 15, Mitchell to 11 and Tuqiri to the bench ....
more force and less tahs = winning streak
you had me until you said cross to 12, guy is an outside centre, he should be dropped for Tahu, far more diverse player!
the Turq at fullback might be an option, again kicking is going to kill us no matter how we go!
they need to bring in Sam Norton-knight! he is our best option!
Now thats just being silly NTT...
Who would be the youngest then to carry the mascot?
sharpie 21 times? your about right there NTT, 21 sharpies could cover the ground and make the tackles of a normal lock!
ok:
tahu has not proved himself to be the player ryan cross is. he has shown he has great potential and will become one of the great players in australia, but ryan cross has become more than great potential. tahu can be on the bench ahead of a few players, but not ahead of crossy.
i honestly cannot see lote in a 15 jumper.
2dads is not our best option. drew or hynes are our best bet. maybe start drew in 15 and if hes shite swap it around with hynes...
A kick in this game is like a rather nasty alcoholic shooter, only as good as it's chaser...
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
i like cross, but my reasoning is that cross is an outside centre specialist, tahu can play anywhere except pivot, he is a better bench option, if it was between them for the starting 13 spot, i would put cross ahead of tahu because tahu provides morebench options (ala matty rodgers)
Turq plays fullback a bit, he is fantastic running from the back, infact i would say out of the options he is our best attacking fullback, its defence and kicking that between the three of them, no one really stands out at all!
but when ryan cross replaces anyone in a wallabies game he comes on for berrick barnes at 12. hes a centre, and on hisprofile it says centre/winger
i am not expecting anything great from any of them. if they were great fullbacks why are they number 3 on the list? janjties will have fun...
A kick in this game is like a rather nasty alcoholic shooter, only as good as it's chaser...
Courtesy of quality South African commentry