Rebel Army

Mortlock: A new chapter

Famously known for intercepting a Carlos Spencer cut out pass and a 100m length-of-the-field try during the 2003 RWC semi final, Stirling Mortlock is a wallaby legend and Bledisloe Cup hero.

Yesterday, he spoke a gaggle of media, including the Rebel Army’s Paul Roberton about the journey back from injury, his impressions of the team and the year ahead.

An imposing 6’3’ and 105kg its hard to believe he can move as fast as he does. If you watch the youtube highlights of the intercept try, he has the most astounding acceleration. Combine the size and power of a fully fit Mortlock you have an unnervingly powerful rugby unit. Just ask Tony Woodcock.

The key words to dwell on are ‘fully fit’. He was sidelined with a knee injury requiring surgery sustained against the Springboks in Capetown in August of 2009. Back problems plagued him for much of the 2009-10 seasonThe spinal injury was significant enough that he couldn’t even participate in the post season festivities.

“There were a number of areas where the disc was prolapsed so it was pushing against the nerve. Essentially the right side wasn’t doing what I was asking it to do. “

He underwent surgery to correct the problem in May 2010.

Dubbed ‘the human highlight reel’ by some, Mortlock has an unnervingly ability to turn a game on its head. Still influential despite the injury set backs, Mortlock has enjoyed several months away from the pitch to rehabilitate and heal.

Many commented on the image of Mortlock modelling the Rebels jersey in the HeraldSun late last year. He looked lean and light, uncomfortably so for a man who in earlier in his career rattled the cages of many of the world’s biggest players.

“It’s been a tough road back. I lost a significant amount of weight, and with that, a lot of power and strength. Where I’m at now I’m happy- I’m very happy but I’ve a little way to go to be comfortable.”

Plucked from Gordon Rugby Club, in Sydney’s Shute Shield, in 1998, the ‘human highlight reel’ has had been an influential player for the Brumbies, the Wallabies and hopefully the Melbourne Rebels.

Set to make his return against Tonga on Saturday Mortlock, after countless hours of conditioning and rehabilitation:

“I feel as though my body’s got a little way to go. I’m very confident in the back in particular. I’ve done a huge amount of work on  rehab and what not, and getting it as strong as possible.It’s more of a body awareness issue. Arguably when I was playing prior to the operation I wasn’t at full capacity”

Despite the fresh legs, there’s still match practice to be considered.

“It’s been a long time between drinks. It’s taking a while for my body back to where I want it to be… I am  a bit rusty. That’s why it’s been good to training for a consistent period of time with the team. The opportunity to have an extra few weeks training has helped my body personally”

“[I’ved tried] to improve and work harder in running different options of my game, working in a team environment but that’s  It’s a bit early for me. Hopefully when I’m in tip-top shape for it will be significantly better than I’ve been for a number of years.

The consummate team player Mortlock has been consigned to the touchline thus far.

“It’s tough watching,that always the case as a player. You want to be out there playing rugby. To watch the guys play quite well in the first matches has been really positive, and gives me the drive to get out there”

“I think the team probably gelled a little bit quicker than what I was expecting. I thought logically about that and the majority have come for a reason, try something new be part of something fresh and possibly taken a risk to do that. And also all of them are good blokes first and foremost, from the top of this organisation all the way down. There’s alot of good people in this organisation. When everyone’s likeminded it’s a great starting point.

“I think we’ve seen good quality in patches. At times our defence was tested and the guys responded really well. There’s some pleasing signs but as a group we know we have a lot [of improvement] left in us to make over these next two trials looking ahead to the Waratahs. They’re arguably our toughest opponent of the Australian teams and they’ll be up there in the tournament”

The Rebels certainly have the cattle, with outstanding performances in the trial matches so far, Cooper Vuna in particular;

“ Coopers a guy with a lot ot talent and potential. It’s up to us to make sure we fast track that talent into consistency and consistent quality performance. If we do that… but I don’t want to give a fat head either!”

Many are putting their hand up for a spot against the Waratahs, giving coach Rod Macqueen the hard task of leaving men out of the line up

“Currently there’s a lot of competition for positions that is without a doubt a very, very good thing to have. As far as the players group is concerned the attitude and the mindset has been first rate [but] part of being in a team environment, things don’t always go the way you would like…It’s how you respond to that. Its an important time for all the players, not just the ones who get the opportunity but the even more so the ones who won’t get an opportunity- how they respond to that is how they contribute to the team”

Some, including Rod Macqueen, give the former Wallaby skipper an outside chance of making the World Cup squad later this year. The man himself though, sees that as too far away to contemplate, but conceded it was an aim. On the topic all he said was “its a long, long way off, with this injury and rehab I’ve had to undertake, I’m not really concerned.”

He expects a 40  minute hit out on Saturday.

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(C) Paul Roberton & the Rebel Army 2011