Philpott’s career put on hold again

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 72

Philpott’s career put on hold again

By 808 SCHUMACHER Canterbury’s latest All Black, Shayne Philpott, knows well the meaning of frustration. His rugby season last year was halted for several months as he overcame an injury to his left leg and his career has again been put on hold as he awaits an operation on his right leg. The utility Canterbury back suffered an injury to his left leg at the Sydney sevens tournament last April and he missed the South Pacific championship series. Philpott, aged 23, returned for Canterbury’s representative programme and after playing three matches he was whisked across to Australia to replace an injured Bernie McCahill in the touring All Blacks team. He made two appearances, at fullback and second five-eighths, and New South Wales B.

After playing in nine of Canterbury’s national first division championship matches at fullback, Philpott landed awkwardly when joining the backline against Counties and the injury, this time to his right leg, excluded him from selection for the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Auckland. The damage to cruciate ligament in his right leg, is basically the same as that which sidelined Robbie Deans for many months when the Canterbury fullback was in his prime. Philpott is hoping to return for the second half of the season but the Burnside player is now having to play a waiting game — waiting to go under the knife. "I’m waiting for the surgeon to operate on me. They’re experimenting with new things such as

knee reconstructions and there is the possibility of a new technique coming out. “My left leg has just come right now ... it wasn’t really that good throughout the season but it is feeling good now. Now I’ve done both legs in one year.” Philpott, who has scored more than 100 points for Canterbury in each of the last two seasons, is resisting temptation’ to play now, although he admitted he was disappointed at missing the national sevens tournament at the weekend. “I could probably play at the moment but I don’t really want to. I’d probably make a fool of myself. I prefer to get the leg fixed and am fairly hopeful that I can get back into it in the second half of the season,” he said.