Freier keeping 'mum' on Wallabies return - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Freier keeping 'mum' on Wallabies return

Melissa Woods 15/11/2010 03:46:16 PM Comments (0)

Veteran Adam Freier only wishes the current Wallaby hookers well, even if his mother doesn't.

Currently training in Victoria's high country as the Melbourne Rebels prepare for their inaugural Super rugby season, Freier hasn't given up hope of forcing his way back into the Australian Test squad for next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

Although Stephen Moore is currently the first-choice rake, selection as one of three Australian hookers in the World Cup squad is far from settled.

But the 30-year-old, who has 90 NSW and 25 Test caps, didn't get any joy from watching the Wallaby scrum steam-rolled by Wales or the team out-played by England on the weekend.

"There's two different ways you can look at it, there's probably my mum's (Chris) way, who loves seeing hookers playing poorly for Australia," Freier said.

"But my way of thinking is ... if you're playing that well that stuff does look after itself.

"I'd love for every hooker in Australia to be playing the house down but deep down be thinking that I'm playing better than them."

Freier is hoping to next week get the green light from his surgeon to start full pre-season training, aiming to be fit for Melbourne's first ever Super match, against NSW on February 18.

He hopes a successful season will be a springboard back into the Wallabies, who he hasn't represented for two years due to a back injury which required two rounds of surgery, the last in October.

He only managed one Super rugby match for the Waratahs last year.

"I'll train through Christmas to get back for the Waratahs game," Freier said.

"My motive is to get back and play top Super rugby ... my drive is to be out there consistently playing rugby."

Freier said there had been some surprise stand-outs in the Rebels' early training, with former giant Test and Queensland prop Rodney "Rodzilla" Blake, who spent the past two years playing in France, and Welsh international Gareth Delve leading the way.

"Rodney's 130kg and he's running with guys who are 90kg, there's a lot of players like him and Gareth Delve who are showing a lot of heart," Frier added.

"They're really showing the way with a lot of the fitness drills ... they're just training the house down at the moment and they shouldn't be because they're the biggest blokes."

He believed Melbourne had an edge over other Super teams, with the players motivated to prove doubters wrong about their age and ability.

"I don't think the outside expectations are very high but I know the drive and the intent within the group on a personal level and from a team point of view shouldn't be underestimated," he said.

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