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Justin Chadwick 14:49 AEST Wed Dec 22 2010
Latest Rugby:
Western Force coach Richard Graham has backed Cameron Shepherd to return to his blistering best, claiming the utility back has finally overcome a litany of injuries that threatened to derail his Super rugby career.
Shepherd hasn't missed a beat during the Force's gruelling pre-season campaign, returning strongly from a hamstring complaint that kept him out of the recent Wallabies tour of Europe.
Graham believed Shepherd, who has suffered numerous setbacks since breaking his left fibula in eight places in 2007, would return to top form next season.
"He's probably in the best condition he's been in for a number of years," Graham said at training on Wednesday.
"I think it was important for him personally that he didn't go on that Wallabies tour, that he had a period of time where he could regain confidence in his body as much as anything.
"Physically, we are really pleased. (He has completed) absolutely everything (this pre-season), hasn't missed a session."
A fit Shepherd will be vital to the Force's chances of making an impact in 2011 after finishing a lowly 13th last season.
Former Hurricanes five-eighth Willie Ripia will also play a key role, with Wallabies star James O'Connor and Gene Fairbanks to be used at 10 should Ripia be injured at any point.
"Ten is a pivotal position. You only have to look at the team's that have won and the correlation between that and the 10s they've had," Graham said.
"Willie's a really good lad, fitted very well into the group and he'll give us some good direction.
"He's now played four years of Super rugby, 40 Super rugby caps.
"So he's established himself at this level of football.
"He'll be very good for us going forward."
Former Hurricanes winger David Smith was forced to watch on from the sidelines on Wednesday after suffering a minor roll of his ankle earlier in the week.
The Force's Wallaby contingent will link up with the side on January 10, with Graham predicting they may be taken aback by the superior level of fitness the rest of the squad has achieved over the past eight weeks.
"Everything has been accountable and there's been no hiding places," Graham said.
"Particularly for the younger players coming into the program, it's probably been the most challenging thing they've ever done physically and mentally.
"The senior players have also found it difficult.
"The benchmark is international rugby.
"Certainly for this group, they'll challenge some of the Wallabies with what they've done over the last eight weeks."
Although the Force have reached excellent levels in their fitness over the past eight weeks, it certainly hasn't helped their singing abilities, which are on full display in a humorous You Tube video celebrating the festive season.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8187493
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