Is Stirling's Wallaby career over?
from The Australian yesterday
Stirling Mortlock's Test career in jeopardy
This is his tenth year of international rugby, a goodly time in the professional age. But the injuries the last few years seem to have taken their toll as he hasn't recovered from them as quickly as a young buck and the repaired Mortlock just seems to be that bit diminished every time. To be honest I've thought for a while Deans sticking with Stirling until RWC2011 was always going to be a stretch.
from The Australian yesterday
Stirling Mortlock's Test career in jeopardy
WALLABIES captain Stirling Mortlock may have played his last Test in Australia if he requires surgery to repair the knee he injured in the disappointing 27-19 loss to South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday. Mortlock arrived home on crutches yesterday and will have an MRI scan today to assess the injury, believed to be cartilage damage. If Mortlock needs an operation, he could miss the remainder of the Tri-Nations tournament.
Mortlock, 30, will decide before the end of the year whether to try to play on to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand or continue his career in Europe or Japan. If he chose Europe he would probably leave Australia at the end of next year's domestic international schedule, but a move to Japan would probably be at the end of this year. "All things being considered it's not too bad at this stage, but my gut feeling is I'll be seeing a specialist and going from there," Mortlock said. "You know in yourself when it doesn't feel right and it didn't feel right. It's really hard to tell. You don't know with these things. Fingers crossed."
In the absence of Mortlock, Adam Ashley-Cooper is expected to start at outside centre with James O'Connor promoted to fullback for the make-or-break Test against the All Blacks in Sydney in two weeks.
This is his tenth year of international rugby, a goodly time in the professional age. But the injuries the last few years seem to have taken their toll as he hasn't recovered from them as quickly as a young buck and the repaired Mortlock just seems to be that bit diminished every time. To be honest I've thought for a while Deans sticking with Stirling until RWC2011 was always going to be a stretch.