Baby steps as Shep plots blazing return - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Baby steps as Shep plots blazing return

By Justin Chadwick 13/04/2010 05:25:01 PM Comments (0)

A fit again Cameron Shepherd has put any thoughts of a Wallabies return on ice for the time being as he concentrates on regaining peak form for the Western Force.

And the talented 26-year-old has given the biggest indication yet he wants to remain with the Force beyond this Super 14 season, stating "it will take a lot to get me out of Perth".

Shepherd missed the first eight rounds of 2010 after tearing his quad during the warm-up of the Force's season-opening clash with the Brumbies.

But the utility back made up for lost time in last week's 41-27 win over the Highlanders, scoring a brace of tries in his comeback game.

And while Shepherd is desperate to return to the national set-up with the 2011 World Cup fast approaching, he said regaining form and fitness with the Force was his first priority.

"I think for anyone playing Australian rugby their goal is to play for the Wallabies but it's not what I'm focusing on at the moment," Shepherd told AAP.

"When I get back to my best and I feel like I'm playing good rugby hopefully that all falls into place and I get picked.

"But I won't be using that as the major motivation.

"I just want to play well at the moment.

"There's no secret I want to play fullback for the Wallabies ... that is what I want to do, that's why I'm playing Australian rugby.

"But I'm not making that the be all and end all at the moment.

"The process of getting there is where I have to put in the hard work and that's what I'll concentrate on."

Shepherd has endured one setback after another since breaking his leg and fracturing his ankle in the dying minutes of a win against France in July, 2008.

"The last two years for me has been pretty tough," Shepherd said.

"I've had to go through a lot of things personally. Just mentally it rocked me a lot.

"I'm a professional footballer and I've played nine games in two years - it's not a stat that anyone would be very happy with.

"I think I've just been unlucky.

"My broken leg and dislocated ankle was a lot worse than we originally thought.

"We made a couple of mistakes in rehab that forced me to have another couple of surgeries but that's life, sometimes these things happen.

"Tearing the quad was just a total freak accident.

"So to be back playing and doing what I love is the main thing and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

Shepherd, who is reportedly in the sights of the Melbourne Rebels, said he was yet to decide on his future.

"It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately," he said ahead of Saturday's clash with the Blues in Auckland.

"I'll get this New Zealand trip over and done with, get back to Perth, sit down with my management and have a proper chat about it.

"There's definitely some options there for me as far as career outside football goes but it will take a lot to get me out of Perth."

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