Eleven ACT Brumbies players have been selected for the Australian Wallabies, but there was no place for fullback Jesse Mogg, in-form playmaker Matt Toomua isn't being considered as a flyhalf and winger Henry Speight will go into camp, despite not being eligible to play for Australia until September.
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Lock Sam Carter was the Brumbies bolter in the Australian squad of 32, the 24-year-old poised to follow in the footsteps of his father, David, a former Wallabies representative.
But Carter wasn't the only Brumbies surprise, with Mogg overlooked and Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie electing NSW Waratahs Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale as his preferred No10's in front of Toomua.
Even before the recent shoulder injury to Quade Cooper, former Wallabies flyhalf and Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham endorsed Toomua as the best No10 in Australia.
But McKenzie has opted to classify Toomua as an inside centre – a position he rarely plays – while trying to mould Beale as the chief playmaker despite his inside centre role with the Waratahs.
Carter was rewarded along with Brumbies teammates Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Scott Fardy, Scott Sio, Nic White, Christian Lealiifano, Pat McCabe, Tevita Kuridrani, and Toomua to prepare for the three-Test series against France next month.
Speight was also a surprise inclusion given he won’t be eligible to play for the Wallabies until September 11 as he continues to wait out an IRB eligibility saga.
Speight signed a new two-year deal with the Brumbies this week and is the only player who hasn't played a Test match to have an ARU top-up contract.
"I know the Wallabies jumper is within reach now,” Fijian-born Speight said.
Mogg was overlooked, with McKenzie citing his inconsistent form, the presence of Israel Folau, Beale and McCabe as options in the No15 jersey.
Carter is the only player in the Wallabies’ contingent who is yet to make his Test debut.
“I almost went deaf from Mum’s screaming when I told her on the phone. Dad was pretty excited too,” Carter said. “That’s my goal and getting the phone call was a dream come true."
Carter's teammates were elated, describing him as the player willing to “stick his head in dark places”.
Brumbies captain and former Wallabies skipper Ben Mowen, left out of the Australian squad because of his decision to play in France after this Super Rugby season, backed Carter's selection.
“He’s the sort of guy you need for Test rugby," Mowen said. "He won’t be fazed. He rolls the sleeves up and gets into it, Test rugby will really suit his style.
“He gets through a huge amount of work and has a huge engine, he doesn’t need the flashy things for the group to appreciate him."
Wallabies selections will provide a timely boost as the Brumbies attempt to avoid ending their South African tour with a disaster.
It was particularly pleasing for McCabe, who has been catapulted from the Brumbies’ bench into the Test squad.
McCabe has broken his neck twice since November 2012 – both times while playing for the Wallabies – and feared his career was over when he suffered a similar knock in March. But the hard-nosed versatile back refused to give in and has discovered his best form.
He has had to bide his time on the Brumbies bench to make way for a back line boasting Test stars Toomua, Lealliifano, Kuridrani and Speight.
“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].”
