Cam's Col # 4 Ahead of Lions Game

[Thequeerone]

TODAY will be D-Day for me, when I'll know if my knee has recovered enough for me to play, writes Western Force fullback Cameron Shepherd.

I had a lot of strapping on it at training and we're gradually building it up to 100 per cent.

I feel really good, but it's a little but sore. We'll see how sore it is at recovery tomorrow and we'll make a decision then.

I'm pretty confident and I think I've got an 85-90 percent chance of playing. I'm looking forward to getting back on track and getting my season started again.

I hated sitting on the bench last Friday.

I don't know what it is, but I get really nervous watching. You sit there and feel the atmosphere build, you can see the players' nerves building, you see little things going on that you don't notice when you are getting ready to play.

When you're playing you're so caught up in your own preparation you don't worry about those things.

It was really hard.

Watching Gits kick the winning penalty brought back good memories of my last-minute winner against the Hurricanes that gave us our first home win.

I was so proud of the boys.

We've been through some hard times in the past two weeks. A few of the boys have been a bit down and it was really good to see everyone pull together, be so unified and get the job done.

We all had dinner together on Saturday night as a bit of a celebration.

I didn't get to the A1 grand prix on Sunday. I was a bit sick, but Lachie MacKay, Scott Fava and Rob Naish (head physio) got to do a lap in a Ferrari.

They said it was pretty special howling round the track.

You might have noticed that I've got a moustache. I had a two-week beard and thought I'd better do something, but it seemed a bit of a waste shaving it off. I might even keep it for the game.

It's just a bit of fun . . . . Hodgo (Matt Hodgson) has gone a bit crazy with his look and we're actually trying to get Scotty Fava to go clean-shaven for once.

The bald look of Chuckie (James Stannard) is pretty funny. He made a bet with Drew (Mitchell) that he wouldn't have a beer for three weeks. Three days in and he'd had a beer.

Drew shaved the sides of his head clean and he had a mohawk with a rat's tail.

It was absolutely disgusting. He sported it for about two hours until Mitch (coach John Mitchell) spotted it.

Sharpie's 30 today. He's getting a bit old. We'll have a cake like we do for any of the boys who celebrate their birthday on tour.

We'll have to do something special for the old fella . . . maybe buy him a wig!

[BLR]

I have to agree with the comment on PerthNow which says that it is like this column is written by a six year old.

[laura]

He is a Rugby player in full training mode, not a journalist sitting behind a text. I like that its more light-hearted than most articles you read in the paper

[KenyaQuin]

The bald look of Chuckie (James Stannard) is pretty funny. He made a bet with Drew (Mitchell) that he wouldn't have a beer for three weeks. Three days in and he'd had a beer.

Not a good advertisement after the past few weeks of crap linked to booze. I would suggest keeping the beer references to nil, atleast while the heat is on.

[Thequeerone]

I like the style of this - perhaps it is a tad naive but to be honest compared to much of the spin we get - it is refreshing - and I like the fact that they are having a birthday cake for Sharpie and that they have had a bit of fun with the rookie - can't wait to hear how he gets em back - might take a while but that's what life is like - a bit of give and take and hopefully a laugh on the way.

I don't have a problem with the lads having a drink - so long as no-one gets hurt it's ok - we don't really expect them all to become tee totals because there happens to have been a couple of alcoholics in the Western Force Family - Jeez half of Ireland would not be drinking if that was the norm.

[KenyaQuin]

No, no problem with them having a drink however I think it does us/them no good when they keep referring to booze especially in print.

[Swee_82]

Booze references fine... as long as that disasterous 'mo is gone by kick off! If Mitch wouldn't abide by what they did to Chucky's hair, then the porn-star mustakka has gotta go too!

[laura]

Correct me if Im wrong, but it was Stannard's birthday last week, so I think that that a beer or two is justifiable and the media can go write a story about that!!!

Maybe that fact is all that was missing from Shep's article...

Doesn't bother me that he wrote about the boys having a drink, atleast they're not denying it!