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http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...276548968.html
Cameron Shepherd is set to be called up to the Wallabies World Cup squad after team officials confirmed that Mark Gerrard would return to Australia after twisting his knee in a tackle during Saturday's romp over Japan.
Gerrard was taken for MRI scans straight after the Wallabies thrashed Japan 91-3 in their group match at Stade de Gerland in Lyons.
While there were many happy faces in the Wallabies squad after the game, it was all mystery - and sheer pain - for Gerrard as the scans showed he had ruptured his medial knee ligament.
Gerrard, who will spend six to eight weeks in a brace, was at least grateful that he wouldn't require an operation. "It could have been a lot worse," he said. "Hopefully it will work out well in the next couple of months."
The sorry end to Gerrard's World Cup campaign was as abrupt as it was distressing. He came off the bench in the 67th minute for captain Stirling Mortlock and would have hoped to join in the festivities on a day the Wallabies scored 13 tries.
But two minutes later, and with his very first touch of the ball, he ruptured the medial ligament as he was smashed by the Japanese defence. Gerrard winced in agony as he was helped off the field by two Wallabies officials.
The results of the scans came through about two hours after the game.
Coach John Connolly said Gerrard was "devastated". He told Connolly that "he got hit in the [left] side and twisted" and that "he did hear a click" in his knee.
The decision on Gerrard's replacement will take several days to make, but Connolly strongly indicated Shepherd was a good chance to be called up because of his Test experience.
The versatile Western Force outside back can play fullback or wing and has earned five Test caps since making his Wallabies debut against England in Sydney in 2006.
Shepherd missed out on a place in the original 30-man squad picked after the Tri Nations, because of a leg injury. But he has since returned to playing in the Australian Rugby Championship for the Perth Spirit.
Connolly said selectors would first review the form of a shortlist of fullback candidates in the ARC before confirming the replacement for Gerrard.
"We have people on the shortlist back in Australia. We will check … ARC form first," he said. "I would probably think it would be Tuesday or Wednesday before we make any decision."
Asked who among the shadow squad based in Australia were most likely be asked to join the Wallabies in France, Connolly said there were "two or three" options. When pressed further, he said Shepherd, Lachlan Turner (Western Sydney Rams), Clinton Schifcofske (Ballymore Tornadoes) and Digby Ioane (Melbourne Rebels) were the strongest chances of boarding a flight for France, before he leaned towards Shepherd.
"And I have probably left a couple out there," Connolly said before ruling out Kurtley Beale, who has been a standout player at five-eighth for the Rams in the ARC.
"Kurtley would come into it if Steve [Larkham] or Berrick [Barnes] were injured," Connolly said. "It will be the best person who fits in - having an advantage of being with the team, and in Cameron Shepherd's case he has [that]," he said. "We will take a couple of days to make a decision, but more than likely we will go with experience."
Connolly said all members of the Wallabies shadow squad were on notice they could be called up at any time. He added that the Wallabies selectors had reviewed videos of the first three rounds of the ARC before Gerrard's setback.
"But we have don't the last two [rounds]," he said.
The only other injury concerns from the opening match were minor. Winger Adam Ashley-Cooper came off because of a bruised big toe, and inside-centre Matt Giteau complained of a sore neck.
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