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Wallabies winger Mark Gerrard says he'll use his full 100kg to become a more intimidating physical presence in his last chance to press for an Australian Rugby World Cup squad berth against New Zealand on Saturday.
Gerrard is under immense pressure to grab a place in the 30-man squad to be named on Monday, with wing certainty Lote Tuqiri suspended and Adam Ashley-Cooper temporarily at fullback to ease Chris Latham's return in Saturday's clash with the All Blacks in Auckland.
With the Western Force's Drew Mitchell playing on the other wing at Eden Park, Brumbies star Gerrard needs a monster game to force his way to France.
"All you can do is play some good football and be smart about how you go about things," 24-year-old Gerrard said.
"I'm just going to try and play some decent footy this weekend and hopefully that holds me enough to get picked in the World Cup squad.
"I can't say I should or shouldn't be in it, I've just got to play good footy, that's what it comes down to."
Asked what area of his game he needs to improve to press for a World Cup spot, Gerrard said: "It's probably my physical part of rugby at the moment.
"I'm sort of 100kg-plus, I can actually get a lot more physical than most guys but you've got to be technical and smart about it.
"I just want to be a whole lot more dynamic in breakdown work, things like that hopefully will improve this week and that's what I've been working on all this week."
Gerrard, who has played 21 Tests for Australia, had been considered one of the Wallabies' most versatile backs due to his strong kicking game and was trialled as a five-eighth back-up to Stephen Larkham in matches on last year's European tour.
He said he'd been happy with his form in 2007.
"The back end of the Super 14 I felt really good and I actually felt it was probably one of the best years I've had playing-wise and physical-wise and fitness," he said. "I'm in the Wallaby team so I can't complain, I've just got to obviously take opportunities as they present themselves."
- AAP
