News

Elsom faces a late fitness test

August 11 2008

Wallaby flanker Rocky Elsom is set to meet with team doctors as he continues his race to be fit for Australia's tour to South Africa for two vital Tri-Nations games.

Elsom missed the defeat against New Zealand, having injured his foot in the previous week's victory, and has since been wearing a protective foot brace in a bid to be fit for Australia's away leg of the tournament.

Now the powerful number six, who has established himself as a mainstay of the Wallaby pack, faces a make-or-break meeting with team doctors to access how well the ligament strain as healed. The decision will determine if Elsom is on the plane this coming Friday, but the player himself remains upbeat.

"It seems like it is coming along quite well but it also felt like that the week before the second All Blacks game, which I missed," Elsom told Fox Sports.

"It will be interesting to see what the doctor has to say.

"We have got two games over there so I would be surprised if I wasn't fit for the second game at least."

Such is the nature of Elsom's injury that he has not been able to receive treatment, instead he has been forced to keep all weight of his foot and let nature take over.

"It feels reasonably good but it's hard to say because I haven't walked without the boot yet," Elsom added.

Elsom's absence was a major problem for Australia as Richie McCaw returned to dominate the breakdown for New Zealand as they took full revenge for the earlier 34-19 reversal.

And now Australia face the task of neutralising Schalk Burger and the muscular South African pack, as well as looking to end an eight-year losing streak in South Africa.

Further to that Elsom wants to be fit for personal reasons, knowing there is no guarantee of further Test caps. That is due to his season-long move to Irish province Leinster, and whilst he can return at the end of it the New South Wales man knows their are no certainties in the future.

"You don't always get picked for the next game let alone down the track, so you don't want to miss whatever opportunities you get," he said.

Having enjoyed some time off with their families the Wallabies will reconvene on Wednesday, where Robbie Deans will make a decision on Elsom and Adam Ashley-Cooper (suffering from a hand injury), before announcing a 28-man touring party.

Despite a resounding defeat in their last outing Elsom insists the side is still full of confidence, and are not daunted by the task of breaking a 15-game Tri-Nations losing streak on the road.

"You can't walk around with your head around your ankles. I don't think one loss is going to worry the boys too much. They'll move on pretty quickly," he said.

"You can play particular types of games, or have a lot of travel, and you may tire if your recovery isn't on the mark.

"But having played Argentina at not full-strength, I am not sure that's going to have any effect on the Tri-Nations."

Breaking an eight-year hoodoo in South Africa will be a tough job, but Australia have come close. In fact, of those nine losses, five have been by five points or less. Elsom says it comes down to 'executing under pressure'.

"That's the big thing over there - handling the pressure. There are big crowds who love the Springboks and the side feeds off it. The pressure can build up," he said.

"You just have to handle that and not lose your focus, and I think this side is better equipped."