By Duncan Wood
November 19 2002

Judging by the reception that he got on Sunday and by the nature of the postings on the messageboard ever since, Shane Drahm seems to have established himself as something of a crowd favourite.

It's fair to say that Shane Drahm had more to prove than most new signings when he arrived at the Memorial Stadium. Not only did he have to establish his playing credentials but he is up against one of the crowd's favourite players in Felipe Contepomi.

Accordingly, eyebrows were raised when he got the nod from Dean Ryan to start the first few matches of last season although Agustin Pichot's European qualification issues meant that one of the foreign stars had to stand down and Felipe was the fall guy.

It's also fair to say that Shane mixed brilliance with some hair raising moments in those first few games. Dazzling breaks and superb kicking were interspersed with interceptions and indecision.

When Felipe came back in, he promptly played a few blinders and Shane was left waiting for his next opportunity.

However, the former Queensland Reds star has never let the team down since that point. When Felipe was absent for the Autumn internationals last year, Shane deputised and played some pretty solid matches bearing in mind that he was also playing through the pain barrier with a strained bicep.

This season has seen a complete turnaround in the way the crowd have perceived him. When he started against Saracens, it didn't take long for a few doubters to give him some stick after only a few minutes play.

But, after a few injuries, he slotted in at fullback and hasn't looked back. He turned in some fine performances in the number 15 shirt, particularly in the European Cup and I would say that, against London Irish, he delivered his most complete performance yet.

He made several sizzling breaks, distributed well and kicked beautifully. He fully deserved to land that last minute conversion to cap his Man of the Match performance but it wasn't to be.

It was noticeable that the crowd really seem to be behind him at the moment. He's a gutsy competitor and the way he carried on against Irish despite a painful calf/ Achilles spoke volumes.

I, for one, hoep he's ok for Bath at the weekend and plays another blinder.