Wallabies 2007 World Cup scrum anchor Guy Shepherdson’s chances of making the 2011 tournament have sunk dramatically after being dropped from the Brumbies squad.
Shepherdson will stay in Canberra and play for the Brumby Runners against West Harbour instead of packing down against the Blues in Auckland after being completely usurped at tight-head by Salesi Ma’afu.
The Brumbies’ signing of rookie Waratahs front-rower Dan Palmer for the 2011 Super 15 has put added heat on the 28-year-old prop.
Shepherdson is contracted until next year but has an option in his favour which the ACT franchise is aware he may act upon.
One most obvious Australian option, which would allow a tilt at the 2011 World Cup, is expansion club Melbourne Rebels but chief executive Brian Waldron on Wednesday said he wasn’t on their radar.
Shepherdson started the Super 14 season with the No.3 jersey against the Western Force but was dropped for round two and Ma’afu has locked down the tight-head position.
Coach Andy Friend said Wednesday’s decision to put Fiji-born Jerry Yanuyanutawa on the bench ahead of Shepherdson was designed to give him much-needed game time.
“Shep hasn’t played a great deal of rugby in the last couple of weeks just given the way I’ve used the bench so this week there’s an opportunity to play 80 minutes for the Runners,” Friend said.
“For his game I felt it was the best thing to get back in there.
“He was our starting tight-head prop last year and I thought he was the best tight-head in the country. He needs to try to find that form again.”
Since the last World Cup, where Australia was outscrummed by England in their quarter-final upset, Shepherdson has fallen well down the pecking order behind Brumbies teammates Ben Alexander and Ma’afu, Waratahs duo Al Baxter and Sekope Kepu, Queensland’s Laurie Weeks and also Matt Dunning at the Western Force.
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March 18th 2010 @ 10:40am
Johnson said | March 18th 2010 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Friend is a joke!!!
Why doesnt he drop his “real madrid” backline line that is looking worse then an U11C retards backline………
he is obviously feeling the pressure…..needs to look like he is doing something but unfortunately what he needs to do is sought out the attitude of the supposodly senior players!!
But he is too scared!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 18th 2010 @ 10:40am
Barry said | March 18th 2010 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Brett Mckay – I would have agreed with that, if he was being given 20mins off the bench! But he hasnt. I think in total he has played 16mins in the last 3 games. To me, thats not the coach giving him a fair go, thats a coach with a clear agenda against a player who has given 10 years service. There is no chance Andy Friend will ever be at the brumbies for anywhere near 10 years but if by some fluke he is, id like to see him kicked out the door with a slap in the face for his loyal service as well. NO RESPECT
March 18th 2010 @ 11:05am
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:05am | Report comment
Barry that just reinforces my point – surely 80 minutes is better for Shep, ultimately?? He’ll get much more chance to play himself into some solid form over a whole game than he would coming on late against the Blues for impact, surely??
That actually sounds like he’s been given a good go, rather than being cleared out…
March 18th 2010 @ 11:12am
Barry said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Cmon Brett, you and i both know that when a player of that age and that experience is sent from the 22 completely, its a fair sign they are no longer wanted. this isnt entirely about form. If Shep was 23, id say yeah fair call. I dont think its going to matter how well he plays for the runners, i cant see friend selecting him again. they have just signed dan palmer and obviously, for some reason or another, they dont see shep as part of the brumbies future. for me, i just see it as a big slap in the face and thanks for coming.
March 18th 2010 @ 11:26am
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Barry, I’m merely offering an alternate line of thought. It could well be a sign, Shepherdson might be on the outer, but it might just be a chance to play 80 minutes too. I understand everyone’s opinions on this, but I’m just countering that maybe playing 80 minutes is the best opportunity for him to find some form. Maybe it just is what is what it is..
March 18th 2010 @ 1:40pm
Herman said | March 18th 2010 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
I hope so Brett, I hope so…
March 18th 2010 @ 10:59am
dave said | March 18th 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
This further reinforces what a crap coach friend is…….
hell lead a team with 4865230 wallabies in his squad to 7th place….The spill at the end of the year will be “played well in patches, bounce of the ball didnt go our way, bla bla bla…….what a struggler!
March 18th 2010 @ 12:09pm
Chris said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
You are criticising Friend for what might happen in the future!
It’s like me saying Ricky Stuart is a brilliant coach and citing the Sharks 2010 premiership win as evidence. It’s a pretty weak line of argument.
So far as Brumbies coach Friend has won 12 and lost 6. I’m betting most “crap” coaches would be pretty happy with a 67% win rate.
March 18th 2010 @ 1:42pm
Herman said | March 18th 2010 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
No bonus points and no finals, with an all star line up – you can throw your percentages and stats out the window Chris cause it doesn’t count for anything. Brumbies should be IN the finals, not 67% of the way there.
March 18th 2010 @ 11:09am
Devon Head said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Here here Barry!!!!
Friend will be Friendless come Finals time…. On current form even with to SA tour down and five games to play at home the Brumbies will be lucky to scrape into the finals…It hurts me to say it and i liken it to the balls being fondeled by Big Bubba an inmate at Silver Water Goal but the cold hard reality is that even the Tahs are improving!!!!
I see no improvment from the brumbies and blame should be shouldered by Friend and Giteau…. Giteau should take a long hard look in the mirror!!! The bloke is not a rockstar, his hair is heading the way of the devon and he is playing shit footy!!!
March 18th 2010 @ 11:45am
Devon Head said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:45am | Report comment
It would seem that Friend needs some coaching advice and Shepo needs to rebuild his confidence…
There is only one man qualified to do such a thing and i am sure with this unsurpassed expertise that the Brumbies and Shepos season will be back on track.
This man is JOE ROFF!!!
March 18th 2010 @ 11:49am
Hubert said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:49am | Report comment
The disloyal neglect of Guy Shepherdson is a prime example of why Rugby Union fails to grow lasting talent and be exciting and competitive in the Australian sporting arena. As a corporate talent management consultant, I know than when people are treated like assets to be invested in over the long term (rather then short-term costs to be cut), they grow and create lasting value and returns – this principle should apply in sport, however the Brumby selectors have sadly let their players and fans down by taking the short term cost view. Guy has shown incredible commitment to ACT and Australian rugby and produced tremendous results as a much younger than usual Wallaby prop. After playing the season of his life in 2009 then being given minimal opportunity to prove himself in 2010, the decision to further remove any opportunity is baffling….
Andy and his management team can get f*****, I’ll support the Reds until Brumbies management prove me wrong. Why? Team spirit and commitment to long-term future performance
March 18th 2010 @ 11:59am
Chris said | March 18th 2010 @ 11:59am | Report comment
For all the criticism he has copped here has anyone noticed that the front row Friend assembled has destroyed the Lions and Sharks in consecutive weeks.
March 18th 2010 @ 12:17pm
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
well Chris, that was sort of the underlying subtext to my suggesting maybe Shep playing for Runners is an opportunity for him, so yeah, I have….
March 18th 2010 @ 12:44pm
PastHisBest said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Cripes Brett! That subtext was mighty well hidden…
March 18th 2010 @ 12:50pm
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
you found it though PHB!!
March 18th 2010 @ 12:21pm
Johhno said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Well done chris….but the lions do suck and John Smit as great a hooker he is simply cant play tight head….
every team has destroyed the sharks scrum the last two years…..
March 18th 2010 @ 3:21pm
Chris said | March 18th 2010 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Well the Brumbies seemed to know something about that front row that the (B&I) Lions didn’t last year.
March 19th 2010 @ 11:59am
AngryAnt said | March 19th 2010 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Could not agree more. Sentiment plays a part but Friend has to play his best team and there is little doubt now that Shep in not the best number 3 in the squad.
March 18th 2010 @ 12:36pm
Jameswm said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Guys if Baxter is so bad, how come the Waratahs scrum is so strong?
Also – Jerry Yanuyanu (Shep’s replacement on the bench) is certainly not soft. Ever seen him play? He’s a brute.
March 18th 2010 @ 12:38pm
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
“Shep hasn’t played a great deal of rugby over the last few weeks given the way we have used the bench. This week is an opportunity for him to get 80 minutes for the (Brumby) Runners.
“He was our starting tighthead prop last year. I thought he was the best tighthead prop in the country. He needs to try to find that form again and the only way to do it is to play.”
Anyone want to guess who’s making these comments??
March 18th 2010 @ 12:58pm
Devon Head said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Detective Bretty Boy McKay…. i would be very interested in finding out what leads you have in relation to these comment makers… As an aspiring Super Sleuth your deductive techniques could be very helpful
March 18th 2010 @ 1:00pm
Barry said | March 18th 2010 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Its all smoke and lies Brett. Friend clearly has it in for him! you cant seriously think he would speak the truth in the papers?! why would they need 5 props next year?
March 18th 2010 @ 1:08pm
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
as I said guys, I’m merely raising an alternate scenario that, if I do say so myself, is no less plausible than thoughts that Shep is on the way out. All coins have two sides; we can look at the same object and see completely different things…
Devon, you might be disappointed about my “leads” on these comments I’m afraid (it was Andy Friend, if that wasn’t already obvious), it’s a straight cut & paste job…
March 18th 2010 @ 12:45pm
Tank said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Jerry Yanuyanu is completely overated and terribly inconsistent. You can’t put a bloke like him in a super14 match. You need a reliable, dominant force. Thats what we are so used to here in Canberra with the likes of Shep and in the past Nick Henderson. If the Brumbies don’t make the 4 this year it’s time for Andy to leave and for some one who knows every thing about the game, like Peter Peppas to take over.
March 18th 2010 @ 2:39pm
ob said | March 18th 2010 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
I reckon hendy would do a better job.
March 18th 2010 @ 3:57pm
Barry said | March 18th 2010 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
Same here!! even that guy Wilson would probably do better
March 19th 2010 @ 8:08am
Tank said | March 19th 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
And those blokes McEwan, Bell, Thomas and Parmeter
March 19th 2010 @ 12:08pm
AngryAnt said | March 19th 2010 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Tank, if Henderson and Shep were a dominate force, why didn’t we dominate at scrum time. We haven’t. Both were at best middling to good (at times) S14 players. And following your logic
“Thats what we are so used to here in Canberra with the likes of Shep and in the past Nick Henderson. If the Brumbies don’t make the 4 this year it’s time for Andy to leave ..”
Why did the Brumbies not make the finals in the recent years when the two of them were playing? If not playing them this year will cost the Brumbies a final, playing them in previous years must have resulted in the Brumbies making the finals. But it didn’t.
I am unhappy with the way they are playing and frustrated that they risk missing the finals again, especially given the talent they have, but I do not think dropping Shep (or letting Henderson go the the Force, where he has really struggled especially at scrum time), is the reason they are struggling. Feel free to make an arguement for Friend’s sacking do, but I wouldn’t lead with this as the reason why.