Wallabies winger Nick Cummins likens the sense of anticipation at taking on the British and Irish Lions’ monster backs to facing an All Blacks’ haka.
The hard-running Cummins has recovered from an early-season knee injury that sidelined him for several weeks of the Super Rugby campaign.
He played in all of Australia’s last four Tests on the tour to Europe and might have timed his run back to full fitness to perfection, considering the fortunes of some of his rivals for a wing spot.
Drew Mitchell, the other wing incumbent, didn’t make the Wallabies preliminary squad chosen by coach Robbie Deans.
And regular first choice Digby Ioane is recovering from knee surgery which forced him to drop out of the squad and it remains to be seen whether he is fit enough for the first Test on June 23.
Cummins, nicknamed The Honey Badger for his ferocious attitude to the game, is relishing the possibility of taking on some of the biggest wingers in the game.
No lightweight himself at 189 cms and 99 kgs, Cummins will still be conceding weight to some of his potential opponents.
Welsh wingers George North (192 cms, 104 kgs) and Alex Cuthbert (198 cms, 104 kgs), might have up ended up in the pack a couple of decades ago but are part of a touring squad that has size across the park.
“It’s a challenge and gets you excited,” Cummins said.
“It’s like standing in front of a haka – it gets you a bit pumped up.
“They’ve got some big, strong wingers and it’s a good opportunity to know where you are at, on the world stage, I suppose, taking on these big fellows.”
Cummins knows all about facing the haka, having done so in his second Test and his first on home soil last October.
Australia punched above their weight that night, drawing 18-18 and ending the world champions’ 16-match winning streak.
Cummins established his international credentials the following month, playing throughout the Spring Tour Tests and notching two tries.
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