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Not quite fullback -- yet Wallaby Burke aims to return against Ireland
Posted: Monday March 29, 1999 12:43 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Wallaby fullback Matthew Burke said Monday he was confident he would be back on the rugby field in time for this year's test series against Ireland. The 26-year-old said he would probably miss the rest of the Super 12 series but was very hopeful he would be fit by the first test against Ireland at Ballymore on June 12. "I'm still plugging away and seeing the physiotherapist every day," Burke said of his badly injured shoulder. "There is more movement in the shoulder day by day. There is still a lot of rehabilitation needed but everybody involved -- the physio and the surgeon -- are pleased with how it's going." Burke severely dislocated his right shoulder when scoring the match-winning try during Australia's 19-14 win over New Zealand in the third Bledisloe Cup test last August. He underwent a complete shoulder reconstruction and has not played since. Burke trains with the New South Wales squad every day, trying to get his shoulder as "functionally normal" as possible. "It's punishing, it's a nightmare really," he said. "It's a frustrating time but we're all working on hard on it." The Wallabies have been jinxed by shoulder injuries this year, with Burke, center Jason Little and Australian skipper John Eales all missing from the Super 12 competition. Little broke his collarbone in the opening Super 12 match and is out for at least another month. Eales needed surgery after a preseason training mishap but is expected to be fit for the World Cup beginning in October. Australian officials will take some consolation, however, from the form of Australia's other fullbacks in the Super 12. The ACT Brumbies' Joe Roff has been in imperious touch since returning from an ankle injury and is the logical replacement for Burke. New South Wales' Duncan McRae and Queensland's Chris Latham are also playing well, forcing Burke to acknowledge that even when he does return, he is no certainty for the number 15 jersey.
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