Sam Carter bolter as 10 Brumbies make Wallabies squad

The Brumbies have 10 players in coach Ewen McKenzie’s 32-man squad, including comeback king Pat McCabe and flyhalf contenders Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano.

Fijian flyer Henry Speight’s drawn out eligibility battle is finally almost over with the Brumbies star called into a wider training group to join the squad for 10 days.

Speight’s inclusion is designed to get him up to date for when he becomes eligible to play for Australia on September 11, almost four years after he moved to Canberra.

Experienced Test front-rowers Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander will be joined by Scott Sio, Scott Fardy, Nic White, Tevita Kuridrani, Carter, McCabe, Toomua, Lealiifano and Speight as the Brumbies’ contingent.

Carter’s dad Dave played five Tests for the Wallabies, including tours to France and Canada in 1989. Now the baton has been passed to Sam, also known as SOD (Son of David), the hard-working Brumbies’ lock who “does the shitters”, “puts his head in dark places” and rarely gets the accolades he deserves.

“I almost went deaf from mum’s screaming when I told her on the phone, dad was pretty excited too,” Carter said.

“It feels pretty good. It’s very exciting news but hopefully I can get on … Everyone who plays rugby wants to play at the highest level. That’s my goal and getting the phone call was a dream come true.

“I knew if I performed consistently well that I’d have a shot. But as exciting as it is, I have to focus on the Brumbies.”
McKenzie spoke to some Brumbies players on Wednesday to tell them they had been included.

The Brumbies are about to finish a two game tour of South Africa and play the Pretoria Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday morning Australian time.

It looms as a must win game for the Brumbies’ Super Rugby title ambitions and the Wallabies call ups provide a timely boost.
Fullback Jesse Mogg was left out of the squad while McCabe, who has broken his neck twice in the past two years while playing for the Wallabies, has earned a Test recall.

McCabe thought his career was over when he copped a knock on his neck in the Brumbies’ third game of the season.
He feared he had broken his neck for a third time and he would never play again.

“I genuinely didn’t think about Wallabies this year, my primary concern was about getting fit again and trying to make the Brumbies team,” McCabe said.

“I was just trying to put a really disappointing [2013] behind me. The bigger knocks are the ones that give you the most confidence [with my neck].”

Speight’s Wallabies dream was put on hold when the IRB ruled he would have to wait until September before earning his first Test cap.

Speight has been living in Canberra since the end of 2010. But the IRB ruled his three-year eligibility wait would have to be extended because of a brief trip back to New Zealand in 2011.

He will join the Wallabies camp for 10 days and wants to impress to help push his case for selection later in the year.
Speight initially thought McKenzie was calling him to discuss his decision to sign a new two-year deal with the Brumbies earlier this week.

The 26-year-old winger is the only non-Wallaby who has been given an ARU top up.

“The Wallabies was always the ultimate goal … even though it’s just part of the camp it’s still a massive, massive honour for myself,” Speight said.

“Even though I’m not available to play in June, it’s just a great honour. I know a Wallabies jumper is within reach now, I believe it is. I’m just grateful that I’m close, it’s really humbling.”

Wallabies squad: Backs - Israel Folau, Nick Cummins, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Rob Horne, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Nic White, Nick Phipps.Forwards - Wycliff Palu, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Matt Hodgson, Scott Fardy, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Luke Jones, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Scott Sio, Pek Cowan, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Nathan Charles.