Blake given training chance

By Jim Tucker
July 30, 2007

MINOR knee surgery for topline Australia prop Guy Shepherdson has pitched Rodney Blake into a three-day taste of Rugby World Cup camp.

Queensland prop Blake will train with the 30-man cup squad in Sydney from tomorrow after Shepherdson's arthroscopy of last Friday ruled him out of training for several weeks.

Blake was an unlucky omission from the cup squad and this training call-up shows how close he was to winning a trip to France.

Shepherdson had trouble with his right knee before the recent Bledisloe Cup decider in Auckland, and Blake was flown over as emergency back-up.

"We decided that Guy should have the clean-up in his knee now and he has the time to recover before we head to the World Cup," Wallaby coach John Connolly said.

Although Shepherdson will miss the Sydney camp, he is scheduled to return for the Wallabies' final camp in Portugal late next month before the squad shifts to France for the Rugby World Cup opener against Japan in Lyon on September 8.

Blake revelled in Sunnybank's record 85-19 grand final triumph against Gold Coast on Saturday.

When he made a typical bust and offload to put Ben Lucas over for a second try, he even ruffled the hair of prone defender Marshall Milroy with a rub of the hand.

Connolly hopes No. 8 David Lyons will take some active part in this week's three-day camp.

Lyons has twice had a catheter inserted in a calf muscle to provide medication for a blood clot.

Surprise shadow player Matt Cockbain is also heading to Sydney as cover for Lyons and fellow No. 8 Wycliff Palu (shoulder).

Palu is listed to play at least one game in the coming Australian Rugby Championship to prove he is able to play on to the Rugby World Cup with his troublesome shoulder.

The Ballymore Tornadoes will benefit for two games by the inclusion of World Cup back-up flyhalf Berrick Barnes.

It will be an ideal opportunity for Barnes to advance his game-control skills and confidence before his departure for the global tournament.

Halfback Sam Cordingley will also benefit with two appearances for the Tornadoes.