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Catch me if you can
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Story by: ARU
Drew Mitchell’s talents have been known to the Rugby community for some time. Selected as captain for the Australian Schoolboys tour of the UK in 2001, he went on to represent Australia at Under 21 level in 2003-04.
Mitchell burst on to the Wallabies radar after a strong debut season of Super 12, playing all 11 matches for the Reds. He scored two tries and earnt his boarding pass for the 2004 Spring Tour where he got his first taste of senior international Rugby against the French Barbarians.
However it was 2005 where Mitchell’s genuine speed and true potential came to the fore, none more so than against the All Blacks in Sydney where he scored a brilliant solo try which included leaving several defenders tackling ghosts.
The Brisbane-born flyer fell out of favour during John Connolly’s first year as coach, but he returned to the Wallabies setup in 2007 after leaving the Reds for the Perth-based Western Force.
While the Wallabies 2007 World Cup campaign ended in the burning heat of Marseille to the English, one of the few positives pulled from the ashes was Mitchell’s try-scoring form. The winger ended up with an Australian record of seven tries, surpassing David Campese’s tally of six at the 1991 World Cup.
In fact Mitchell’s Wallabies strike rate currently sits at two tries in every three matches which is comparable to the legendary finishing of Campese (64 tries from 101 Tests).
“It was disappointing to lose to England, but it’s nice to hold a record, especially one that stood for a long time," Mitchell said.
“But I would trade it in for a shot at a World Cup final in a heartbeat.
"The World Cup is now history and my focus is on helping the Western Force reach the finals of Super 14 and if I play well, Wallabies selection will take care of itself.
“It’s been great to have had the opportunity to play 50 Super 14 games, but as long as I’m doing my part to help the team to win, than that’s all that really matters to me.”
Drew Mitchell Profile
(as of 1 January, 2008)
Position: Fullback/Wing
Physical: 1.82m, 92kg
Born: 26.03.84, Brisbane
Club: Perth Bayswater
State Caps: 50
State Debut: 2004 v Highlanders (Reds)
State Points: 65 (13t)
Super 14 Caps: 49 (35 Reds, 14 WF)
Super 14 Debut: 2004 v Highlanders (Reds)
Super 14 Points: 60 (12t)
Test Caps: 21
Test Debut: 2005 v South Africa
Test Points: 70 (14t)
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