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Emirates Western Force star Cameron Shepherd has the opportunity to reignite his international career after being selected in the Wallabies match day 22 to tackle New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Shepherd has been added to the reserves bench in what is another significant step in his elevation back to test rugby after a horror injury run curtailed his past 24 months.
A potent attacking force, Shepherd has been stuck on nine tests after breaking his leg playing for the Wallabies in 2008. His efforts to return to the Wallabies, and peak form for the Force, has been curtailed with several injury setbacks but he has finally been able to put that behind him and is ready for action in a crucial match for the Aussies.
Playing in the stronghold of Christchurch, the All Blacks will fancy their chances of extending the misery they’ve inflicted upon Australia in recent times, their winning streak currently standing at eight matches.
The Wallabies have responded to last weekend’s defeat by making three changes in personnel plus a positional switch in the starting XV.
NSW Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale and the Faingaa twins, inside centre Anthony and hooker Saia, have all been promoted into the run on side after featuring from the bench during last weekend’s 28-49 loss to the All Blacks in Melbourne.
They take the places of Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes and Stephen Moore respectively, with Adam Ashley-Cooper reverting from fullback to centre in the absence of the injured Horne.
Barnes and Moore have been named on the bench alongside Shepherd.
The Emirates Western Force has six players in the 22 with Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Richard Brown, James O’Connor and Matt Hodgson all retaining their places in the squad.
It will be a special occasion for Sharpe who plays his 85th test and becomes the most capped second-rower in Wallabies history, surpassing the legendary John Eales.