August 2009

The start to the 2009 Tri Nations Tournament has been tough for the Qantas Wallabies and also for me personally.  The Wallabies went down in our first two away fixtures against New Zealand in Auckland and South Africa in Cape Town. In Sydney, we suffered a last minute defeat when Dan Carter effortlessly knocked a penalty over with two minutes to go crunching our Bledisloe Cup chances for season 09.

I suffered a knee injury in the Cape Town test match on the 8th of August. After returning to Sydney, I had an arthroscope on my left knee to repair a lateral meniscus tear and some cartilage damage. I saw my surgeon Dr David Wood on Monday 24th August and he could not have been happier with the progress. None the less, my rehabilitation time will allow me to play by late September, which unfortunately means I will miss the Tri Nations Tournament.

Currently, the Qantas Wallabies have suffered three narrow consecutive defeats. I know everyone in the squad is hurting. You can be assured though that the group is still improving and these tough defeats will be great learning experience for all.

Personally, this injury although frustrating has given me an opportunity to spend some quality time with the family allowing me to get out to a couple of my boys rugby matches on the weekends.  I have also been able to go into Citi several times a week to gain a greater insight into the institutional equities floor. This time off gives me almost a pre season for the coming Spring Tour. My plan is to work hard at the physio and the gym until my knee is ready to go and then rip into the training. I aim to be physically at my best when we depart to take on the All Blacks in Tokyo on the 31st October.

Lets hope the boys are able to get some good wins over the next few coming Test matches. I have every belief that this Wallabies team is on its way up and we can look forward to some exciting performances over the next period of time.

Cheers Stirlo

Wayne Smith | May 18, 2009

Less than a month ago, Brumbies coach Andy Friend was questioning how much more Stirling Mortlock had to give, but now he has no doubt the warrior centre is still the man to lead the Wallabies.

The worst game in Brumbies history, the 56-7 Anzac Day loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington, coincided with the worst performance Mortlock has played in the Brumbies jersey.

Although Friend subsequently came to realise a viral infection the previous weekend had drained Mortlock of all energy, not the shape to be in when confronting All Blacks battering ram Ma'a Nonu, it took all of his self-restraint in the immediate aftermath of that record defeat not to dump the Wallabies captain.

In the end, he retained him in the side but nonetheless switched him from the midfield to the wing.

"It was a very un-Stirling-like performance from him against the Hurricanes," said Friend, no doubt referring to Mortlock's five missed tackles.

"But since that day Stirling has shown what a phenomenal character and inspirational leader he is.

AAP | May 11, 2009

ROBBIE Deans insists Stirling Mortlock remains well in the mix to retain the Wallabies captaincy in 2009.

Stirling Mortlock kicks the goal to be highest point scorer in super rugby at Canberra Stadium last Saturday Picture: Kym Smith

Turning 32 next week, Mortlock is under growing pressure from a clutch of younger, in-form players _ headed by Queensland dynamo Digby Ioane _ to hang on to his Wallabies No.13 jumper in 2009, let alone the national captaincy.

The scrutiny on Mortlock reached fever pitch last month when Brumbies coach Andy Friend shunted the 76-Test stalwart to the wing for the first time in almost a decade of Super rugby.

Deans, though, says Mortlock remains one of the most influential players in Australia, an assertion emphasised in his match-turning display in the Brumbies' season-saving win over the Blues on Saturday night.

"Stirling has shown through Super rugby again that he's still a player who has a presence and an ability to impact on a game _ as recently as last weekend," the Wallabies coach said today.

"His acts (on Saturday) were the pivotal acts in the game that turned the momentum.

"But, most importantly, what was evident most of all was his desire. He still wants to make a difference as opposed to just make up the numbers, and that's a critical quality with any player."

AAP | May 11, 2009

He is refusing to guarantee him a walk-up start, but Robbie Deans insists Stirling Mortlock remains well in the mix to retain the Wallabies captaincy in 2009.

Turning 32 next week, Mortlock is under growing pressure from a clutch of younger, in-form players - headed by Queensland dynamo Digby Ioane - to hang on to his Wallabies No.13 jumper in 2009, let alone the national captaincy.

The scrutiny on Mortlock reached fever pitch last month when Brumbies coach Andy Friend shunted the 76-Test stalwart to the wing for the first time in almost a decade of Super rugby.

Deans, though, says Mortlock remains one of the most influential players in Australia, an assertion emphasised in his match-turning display in the Brumbies' season-saving win over the Blues on Saturday night.

"Stirling has shown through Super rugby again that he's still a player who has a presence and an ability to impact on a game - as recently as last weekend," the Wallabies coach said on Monday.

"His acts (on Saturday) were the pivotal acts in the game that turned the momentum.

"But, most importantly, what was evident most of all was his desire. He still wants to make a difference as opposed to just make up the numbers, and that's a critical quality with any player."

Deans said Mortlock, like all players in contention, was well aware he needed to keep performing to gain ongoing Test-match selection.

"There's no guarantees for any player - and they don't want a guarantee," he said.