Shepherd Out for 4-6 weeks

[Thequeerone]

SHEPHERD RULED OUT FOR 4-6 WEEKS

The results of a scan on Emirates Western Force winger Cameron Shepherd’s left knee show a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament.

The injury is expected to keep Shepherd sidelined for between 4 to 6 weeks but will not require surgery.

[pruc]

thats good rwc still on the cards then

[Mtbeaver]

Well that certainly sucks..

[Shaun]

Good to hear he does not need surgery! When is the first Wallaby test? Will he be ready to roll?

[The EnForcer]

Glad to here it is not major....looking on it from the bright side it means we can try out some new combinations. always good to do that and Gits is pretty hot on the kicking.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Its fortunate that he doesnt require surgery as very few sportsmen make a successful recovery from PCL reconstructions. Unlike ACL surgery.

[The InnFORCEr]

As dissapointed as he would have been on Sunday morning at the hotel he was in good spirts and told us how he was feeling it and his own diagnosis seems correct.

[jazza93]

dammm. i hope he can come back strong and make it into the walibies team.

this might give stenaforth a starting spot again.

[prop53]

Bad luck Sheps ,hope all goes well

[aston aka martin]

unlucky sheps, have a good recovery, i look forward to seeing you in a wallabies jumper soon

[Jess]

*sigh*... this is not good news at all.

Though I'm sure a lot of ladies won't complain seeing him in a fancy suit on the sidelines.

[Burgs]

Wallabies v Wales, Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Saturday, 26 May 2007

Wallabies v Wales, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday, 2 June 2007

Wallabies v Fiji, Subiaco Oval, Perth, Saturday, 9 June 2007

Sounds good to me, a Subiaco come back to share David Pococks Test Debut!

[Terri]

No one complaining on this end jess

That really does suck though

[Burgs]

Burke recall from England 'wrong option'

Monday Apr 23 18:28 AEST

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has rubbished moves to recall veteran Matt Burke from England to solve Australia's fullback dilemma.

Plans to have Burke return to international rugby union are being reconsidered with news that leading No.15 candidate Cameron Shepherd will be sidelined from four to six weeks.

Western Force star Shepherd cut a relieved figure after receiving a positive medical report on the knee ligament he tore in Friday night's Super 14 loss to the Brumbies.

While the winger-fullback will not require surgery on his left knee, he will possibly miss the start of the Test season when the Wallabies take on Wales in Sydney on May 26.

It was initially feared the tear could rule him out of the World Cup, prompting a possible SOS to 34-year-old Burke, who has played for Newcastle since ending his 81-Test career in 2004.

Incumbent Chris Latham remains in some doubt for the World Cup, kicking off in September, after undergoing a knee reconstruction in January while there are concerns about the credentials of Super 14 fullbacks Drew Mitchell and Julian Huxley.

Jones, who coached Burke for the last four seasons of his Test career, said rehashed plans to reactivate his ageing legs were "definitely a step in the wrong direction".

"Burkey is 34 and in those positions you just don't get better with age because speed's such an important thing," the Queensland coach told Sydney radio station 2KY.

"Certainly he's got the experience and he's playing very well in England, but you've got to remember England is a club premiership, it's not Test level.

"It's much slower than Test level."

Shepherd is eying the opening Wales Test as a realistic goal after receiving the good news he hadn't torn his meniscus.

"It could have been a lot worse," he told AAP.

"I was very nervous when it first happened.

"It's actually a blessing in disguise because I've had a lateral ligament tear in my right knee and now I can get that 100 per cent and also work on my upper body strength."

Shepherd, Latham's back-up in Europe last November, went into bat for Force teammate Mitchell or versatile Brumby Mark Gerrard to ably fill the No.15 jersey if he can't return in time.

Jones would like to see Reds league convert Clinton Schifcofske picked for Australia A's five-match campaign in June and July to continue his development.

"I think Cam Shepherd's done well at fullback, Drew Mitchell's probably more of a winger than a fullback," he said.

"With Latham out, then you think about looking at someone like a Clinton Schifcofske, who will do a job for you and kick goals, which is going to be important.

"The other idea might be to put someone like Lote Tuqiri back at fullback and try and expand his game and make sure you pick a winger who can kick well, so you've got a kicking game out of the back three."


©AAP 2007

[pruc]

burke should never have been let go. but give sheps and dreby a chance. on 10news sheps sounded pretty confident that he would play in perth against fiji