Horror film steels Mitchell for World Cup bid
Jamie Pandaram
July 27, 2011
DREW MITCHELL was forced to watch the horrific leg injury he suffered in April numerous times in slow motion to overcome the psychological trauma as part of his bid to return for the World Cup.
Mitchell is squeamish by nature over such injuries, and it was difficult for him to watch his own ankle being broken and turned in the opposite direction after a collision with Queensland's Scott Higginbotham in round 10 of the Super Rugby season.
But a sports psychologist forced Mitchell to view the disturbing footage over and over to desensitise the star winger and allow him to return without fear of suffering an immediate recurrence.
''I didn't want to hold on to any stress or anxiety over the injury, I was quite open to anything that was potentially going to help me,'' Mitchell told the Herald.
''Sitting down and watching it in slow motion, which I simply couldn't do for the first couple of weeks, has really helped me. When it happened, I couldn't watch contact sport without thinking someone was going to do their knee.
''At first it was a bit uncomfortable, but after watching the clip over and over in slow motion it has maybe helped me overcome that psychological hurdle and helped me to progress.
''Every time I thought about it my stomach would turn, but now I can see it and I won't blink.''
Mitchell has made remarkable strides in his comeback bid after his World Cup dream seemed shattered as he writhed in agony at Suncorp Stadium. Despite stating two days after the injury that he could return for the tournament, few genuinely thought it possible.
Yet he has started running again and this week on the Gold Coast - where the Wallabies are holding a squad training camp - was able to complete drills where he stepped off both feet.
Mitchell has had screws removed from his ankle and is growing more optimistic about his chances of featuring in New Zealand.
''If I feel the ankle is solid and have trust in that, the confidence will be there,'' Mitchell said. ''If there is hesitation and doubt I will take that into my ball carries.
''I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think I could get back to my best, and it won't help my position in the team if I wasn't at my best.
''I don't want to be there to carry someone's bag.''
Mitchell will follow a strict rehabilitation plan, returning to Sydney on Friday to continue his running program. ''At first there was a bit of hesitation running, you think it's going to hurt a bit more than what it does,'' he said.
''I won't say I am running with perfect technique, but it's getting there. The more metres I get into that leg the better it'll be.''
Another Wallaby embarking on a remarkable injury comeback is prop Benn Robinson, who will fly into the training camp on Friday to have further checks on his knee after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during training two weeks ago.
While ACL injuries ordinarily resign athletes to at least six months on the sideline, the state of Robinson's knee has meant he falls into a small portion of the population who can still function without the ligament.
While his hopes remain slim, Robinson has so far defied the odds and would be a highly valued scrummager for the World Cup.
With New Zealand facing South Africa in this weekend's Tri Nations match, the Wallabies are holding a string of exhaustive training sessions this week.
The squad will be cut from 40 to 24 and many players will return to play club rugby in Sydney this weekend. Those who remain on the Gold Coast will be given the weekend off and then train early next week before flying to Auckland for the opening Bledisloe Cup match on August 6.
