Wallabies halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper marvel at Pat McCabe’s inspirational toughness – and their Queensland coach Richard Graham seemingly concurs, with the Reds placing their best defender, Anthony Fainga’a, into his path for Friday’s clash with the Brumbies.
McCabe, who played outside Genia and Cooper in Australia’s 2011 World Cup campaign, has made a remarkable comeback from two neck fractures to help the Brumbies charge to second place on the Super Rugby ladder.
Although the ACT outfit have both Matt Toomua and Christian Leali’ifano fit for the derby showdown at Suncorp Stadium, McCabe is a certainty to retain the hotly-contested No.12 jersey.
The hard-running centre was a two-try man-of-the-match in the 26-9 win over the Blues last weekend and also starred in their previous win over the Hurricanes.
This is after many rugby experts and former players felt the 26-year-old shouldn’t further tempt fate after a nightmare injury run.
“To see the hard work he’s put in and see him back out on the field and playing great football – hats off to him,” Cooper said.
“He’s come back from a very scary injury and it was only a few weeks ago that I was in a position where my neck was compromised and to see him come back from an actual broken neck and be playing great football is a credit to him.
“And his role in the team is a terrifying one!”
Genia said he was both proud and inspired by McCabe’s return and expected him to be a major midfield threat in the must-win match.
The Reds certainly need defensive linchpin Fainga’a to be at his tough-tackling best in his first run-on start of the season – in twin Saia’s 100th super match.
He replaces Mike Harris whose Achilles problem has him bracketed on the bench, with a decision on his availability to be made on game day.
Highlighting Queensland’s injury worries, lock-flanker Dave McDuling will make his Super debut if Harris is scratched due to a lack of fit backs in their squad.
The return of Chris Feauai-Sautia on the wing is one welcome boost for the Reds, who have lost three of their last four matches to be in 11th place.
“His explosive running will be an asset for us,” coach Richard Graham said.
Graham stuck with his worker-bee back-row amid calls for the bigger Curtis Browning to start at flanker.
But he conceded the Reds needed to be better at closing out games after failing to put the Lions and Western Force away in costly losses.
Reds: Ben Lucas, Rod Davies, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Fainga’a, Chris Feauai-Satutia, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Jake Schatz, Beau Robinson, Eddie Quirk, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, James Hanson, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga’a, Albert Anae, Jono Owen, Ed O’Donoghue, Curtis Browning, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris/Dave McDuling, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
barbz
Guest
That is such a horrible example. It is really easy to pick holes in anyone's ability. The Wallabies lead Wales 17-13 in RWC 2015 with 2 mins to go, defending 20m out from the try line. Jamie Roberts runs at Beale. Wouldn't you rather McCabe there? I mean. You could imagine any sort of scenario and it would be easy to argue against it. Referencing your example, maybe McCabe has score 2 tries that the kicker failed to convert but no, it's up to him to get those last points to win the game. It is all well and good to criticise McCabe's skillset but I think it is dishonest to say he hasn't performed well at test level. People forget that him and Pocock pretty much single-handedly won us that RWC quarteri-final. Also, our greatest win in the last few years (2011 vs the All Blacks at suncorp) had a centre combination of McCabe & A Fainga. Not every game requires 23 expansive ball players.
Gasparin
Guest
Reds will win this one at home. Huge amount of pride (and the season) on the line. A long time between back to back home losses for this team. And many forget the true class of the second row and halves combinations. Brumbies look very good and McCabe is certainly in form. Serious anticipation from the Middle East. Can't wait.
dahl
Guest
Pride comes before the fall jimbo. Reds will be done like a roast...
dahl
Guest
Toomua one. Mccabe and leilifano sharing two at present. Daylight next.
Jimbo81
Guest
McCabe sucks. One good game in 3 years and cost us a RWC (not single-handedly but definitely top 5 reasons why we lost). Yeah - Genia and Cooper must be shaking with fear. Here comes McFail for the turnover run. Guaranteed never to pass. Running hard but at 88kgs who cares?
Fair go
Guest
Nope. A Tahs fab would say so too.
jameswm
Guest
Nah - barring injury Toomua will wear 12 for the first French test.
jameswm
Guest
LOL - You mean prima donnas - Italian for something like first lady, used in operas? Premaddonas - you mean they're not madonna yet?
Michael Lee
Roar Rookie
Reuben Thorne was a fair international footballer, but apparently one hell of a leader. A bit similar to Ben Mowen I would think. The best players do not always make the best captains.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
That was actually one of his best ever tests. He may have been the man of the match.
Jerry
Guest
He was a very good 'ordinary' footballer. I'm not claiming he was Kieran Read, but he was in no way am embarrassment to have as a player or captain. Todd Blackadder as AB captain on the other hand....
Magic Sponge
Guest
Tahs cop it mercilessly from the reds so they can cop it, especially when they are rubbish and still reckon half the wallabies should be reds players and saying the tahs are soft premaddonas. You give a bit back and the fans turn to water. Going Tahs and Brumbies 13 plus.
Combesy
Roar Guru
I don't mind banter at all rob, but I think respect for players and teams need to come into it. Instead of mindless comments about how crap the reds are and that they wont win another game. If MS could come up with a genuine argument as to why either of those were true then im all ears...
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Why would you want to stop the banter? Doesn't it just make it that much sweeter when your team wins? If I were a Reds fan, I'd be proud to be hated - it shows that you matter. A few years ago most Brumbies fans treated the Reds with the contempt that their 1-15 record against the Brumbies deserved. The Brumbies fans who turned up to the home games would be baying for a four-try bonus point, and would expect it every time. Since then head-to-head the Reds have won four from seven and a lot of respect. Respect is not always expressed politely, though, you have to read it between the lines.
DJW
Roar Rookie
Will be interesting to see if Fangaii trys his rush up defence on McCabe
Buzzard
Guest
Like the Rebels did the week before!
Markus
Guest
Mike Harris could definitely slot over a penalty at that point, but I wouldn't be expecting much more from him than that.
Buzzard
Guest
Ruben Thorne was a very good leader of men. Led the Saders & All Blacks very well. Actually he was the last ABs captain to win the Bledesloe Cup off Australia all those years ago, nearly when TV was in black n white. The test that won the Cup he led by example in the dying minutes. Took every lineout win, tackled everything that moved, a real captains knock. He would have been a great Wallaby if he weren't an All Black!!!
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
So what happened last Friday? Did Nonu forget how to do that, or is it just not as easy as it sounds?
Turnover
Roar Guru
That was exactly what happened when the Blues beat the Brumbies in Canberra in 2012. Nonu monstered McCabe and help him a few times.