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Craig HillMark Gerrard: Full(y)Back for The Brumbies?
January 22nd 2008 22:00
Wallabies back Mark Gerrard trained for four years to play at the World Cup but it took just one tackle for his dream to turn into a nightmare.
from The Age
image courtesy of ABC
from The Age
...So it comes as some surprise to hear the skilful utility describe his heart-breaking knee injury in the tournament opener in France as a "blessing in disguise".
Despite being resigned to missing the start of the Super 14 at the time, Gerrard is now in peak shape, champing at the bit to play two Brumbies trials and grab the vacant fullback role.
The stunning recovery has come following a decision to bypass surgery and spend six weeks, non-stop, in a leg brace after tearing ligaments after one minute on the field and one touch against Japan.
It's allowed Gerrard to enjoy his best pre-season with the Brumbies and see him trim down to 100kg, down from 107kg this time last year when sent home from a Wallabies camp for being unfit.
"I'm raring to go," he told AAP. "The knee has held up really, really well.
"I've lost four or five kilos so I'm really looking forward to it. "I was so far behind the eight ball this time last year it wasn't funny.
"I've taken this injury as a blessing in disguise. I look back now and I know you can't be in that shape and be a professional footballer."
Although only 25, Gerrard enters the 2008 season as the Brumbies senior back following the retirements of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham and injuries to Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone.
Shoulder surgery to skipper Mortlock, sidelining him until round seven or eight, makes the backline a jigsaw puzzle for coach Laurie Fisher heading into the competition opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch on February 15.
Incumbent fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper is the likely replacement at outside centre, opening up No.15 for either Gerrard or Julian Huxley.
The decision, though, could well come down to how young playmaker Christian Lealiifano performs at five-eighth in trials against NSW (February 1) and Hurricanes (February 8).
Huxley prefers fullback and has played his best rugby at No.15 but proved himself a quality five-eighth while standing in for Larkham last year.
Gerrard has played just six of his 58 games for the Brumbies at fullback and was never considered for the role last year due to his lack of fitness, something that isn't an issue in 2008.
"I'd like to play 15," he said.
"You've got a free rein and more of a chance to spread your wings."
Liking what he's seen, Fisher says he needs Gerrard to deliver his best season for the new-look Brumbies but is none the wiser whether he'll deliver it wearing jersey 15 or 11.
"You know that Hux will be on the park, you know that Ashley-Cooper will be on the park, you that Gerrard will be on the park but where they'll be will depend a lot on how other blokes go and then what the best make-up is," he said.
Despite being resigned to missing the start of the Super 14 at the time, Gerrard is now in peak shape, champing at the bit to play two Brumbies trials and grab the vacant fullback role.
The stunning recovery has come following a decision to bypass surgery and spend six weeks, non-stop, in a leg brace after tearing ligaments after one minute on the field and one touch against Japan.
It's allowed Gerrard to enjoy his best pre-season with the Brumbies and see him trim down to 100kg, down from 107kg this time last year when sent home from a Wallabies camp for being unfit.
"I'm raring to go," he told AAP. "The knee has held up really, really well.
"I've lost four or five kilos so I'm really looking forward to it. "I was so far behind the eight ball this time last year it wasn't funny.
"I've taken this injury as a blessing in disguise. I look back now and I know you can't be in that shape and be a professional footballer."
Although only 25, Gerrard enters the 2008 season as the Brumbies senior back following the retirements of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham and injuries to Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone.
Shoulder surgery to skipper Mortlock, sidelining him until round seven or eight, makes the backline a jigsaw puzzle for coach Laurie Fisher heading into the competition opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch on February 15.
Incumbent fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper is the likely replacement at outside centre, opening up No.15 for either Gerrard or Julian Huxley.
The decision, though, could well come down to how young playmaker Christian Lealiifano performs at five-eighth in trials against NSW (February 1) and Hurricanes (February 8).
Huxley prefers fullback and has played his best rugby at No.15 but proved himself a quality five-eighth while standing in for Larkham last year.
Gerrard has played just six of his 58 games for the Brumbies at fullback and was never considered for the role last year due to his lack of fitness, something that isn't an issue in 2008.
"I'd like to play 15," he said.
"You've got a free rein and more of a chance to spread your wings."
Liking what he's seen, Fisher says he needs Gerrard to deliver his best season for the new-look Brumbies but is none the wiser whether he'll deliver it wearing jersey 15 or 11.
"You know that Hux will be on the park, you know that Ashley-Cooper will be on the park, you that Gerrard will be on the park but where they'll be will depend a lot on how other blokes go and then what the best make-up is," he said.
image courtesy of ABC
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