Ben Mowen to lead Brumbies in 2012

McCabe runs too upright at inside centre. Rathbone had the same problem and got belted. His best position for the Brumbies is fullback. Very solid under the high ball (similar to Rob Kearney in that respect)

I was a great fan of his at the Tahs and he's got plenty of natural talent. You weren't watching! His issue will be the competitiveness of his side I wish both him and the Brumbies well.

Mowen is a good choice... just what a new young squad need. Jake White just hasn't handed him the Captaincy, he has observed functioning within the squad for a good 8 months. The Brumbies need to get members back, they need a charismatic leader. Mowen is very likable chap, intelligent, the media and sponsors will love him...

It looks as though you are clairvoyant: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/leg-injury-may-force-vickerman-to-retire-20120215-1t6ry.html

So if he is so unnatural he made the wallabies Justin and is easily our best defender at I/C , and basically the best defensive centre in the world with Conrad Smith the other. Natural is not about being pretty or looking good, it is being effective and tough. Watch the Samoa match and watch Mcabe, he runs hard and straight and tackles hard too. Ma Nonu admits he finds Mcabe akward to play against coz, Mcabe is taller than him 6'1 and run hard in your face, and tackles hard, and is mentally strong. Assets that you have to have the talent to have you can;t develop it at training courage in high levels you either have it or you don't and mace has it in spades. He has a heart of phar lap the way he approaches his rugby. Look at the world cup Q/F vs south africa as evidence of this. And without the NFL is dying in america look at the ratings for growth of a sport rugby is far outranking gridiron for development of junior talent. Rookie rugby USA won a prestigious IRB award for it's development.

Johnno please, might be best to watch a game of rugby one day. After your NFL is dying in America rant you are two for two old boy! McCabe isnt a natural footballer and wouldnt have a clue about tactics to be a captain of the U8s

I hope Hoiles makes it back at the Tahs. he was a good player who should of got more wallaby tests, but didn't for one reason or another (injuries, perceived lack of size for a no 8). But he was effective without hew ork he did and skilful, but no Kefu but still a decent player. Mowen could do well, and this may be the start of making him a better player and trying to gain wallaby honours .

Johnno, it would be fair to say that I disagree with pretty much everything you've said here. There is nothing more or less to this than the best man being picked for the job. Jake White knows a thing or two about picking captains. Moore and McCabe (and Dan Palmer) will still be on-field leaders. There's no rats to smell mate, and 'jobs for the boys' doesn't hold water when you consider Mowen is yet to play a SR game yet. And Hoiles and Brumbies came to a mutual agreement anyway, on the basis that at the time, it was unclear when or even if he would be right to play again. What else could they do, try and a play out a season one man down? Hoiles has apparently been invited to train with the Tahs though, and I hope he does make it back..

Brett I am not happy with Mowen's appointment. I smell a rat. How Jake White could ignore proud Wallabies Mcabe and Moore, men who play hard, and men who have served there country in world cups and for the wallabies, is not good. Mowen should not have accepted the captaincy, and let his more senior Brumbies Mcabe and Moore have the job. Jobs for the boys it seems again in Brumbie land. And how the Brumbies have treated a former wallaby and captain Steve Hoiles is disgraceful too. He should of been retained, a wallaby too Hoiles is unlike Mowen.

agree Yikes, Mowen has completely embraced the whole living in Canberra thing, and is certainly an impressive guy off the field..

Bakkies, for what it's worth, McCabe told the hordes yesterday that his first contact session would be today, and that around Round 4 might be a realistic goal for playing...

McCabe is injured and hasn't trained. McCabe is only 23 where as Mowen has captained the under 21s which White holds in high regards. Jake White made his name in that age group coaching the 2002 SA under 21s team to the under 21s World Cup title (a team that included Fourie du Preez, Steenkamp, Burger, de Villiers, Rathbone, Willemse, Juan Smith, Januarie, Gary Botha, Quinton Geldenhuys, Ndguane, Jacques Cronje and Wannenburg) against a pretty good Junior Wallabies team (Horua, Giteau, Sheperdson, Gerrard, Henjak, Turinui, Heenan, Henderson, Chisholm, Tawake, Brock James, Hodgson, Mafi Kefu).

Another ex Waratahs number 8 straight into the captaincy gig. Hopefully he goes better than the last one.

I reckon White will harden him up tho - and tell him to go straight up the middle. It will be worth watching as a fine measure of White's coaching ability.

Mowen or McCabe?

Excellent choice (for my mind). He is a seriously impressive character off the field. His task is to ensure his playing on the field matches his status as captain, which will be tough for him since he's not as naturally gifted as some other backrowers around.

um...because hes: 1) so over rated its a joke 2) has all the presence of a dashound

Hahah..so 2 out of 5....never let the facts get in the way of a good Qld rant.

Disgraceful choice how is Pat Mcabe a proud wallaby not considered ahead of Ben Mowen no Wallaby tests, I don't understand it. Jobs for the boys or favourites I hope this stuff doesn't happen again at Brumbie land.

and I thought Mortlock was from NSW? Wasnt he a Gordon Junior?