McCabe and Peku ready for the challenge
Inside centre McCabe and loosehead prop Kepu have only established themselves in the Australia test team this season, however, and it would have taken more than a sore shoulder and turned ankle, respectively, to keep them away from the biggest game of their careers.
Both players were part of the team that beat the All Blacks in Brisbane to clinch the Tri-Nations and both face formidable opposition at Eden Park. McCabe will be up against Ma’a Nonu, widely considered the world’s most effective inside centre, and the 23-year-old is hoping for help from his team mates to rein in the physical All Black. “He’s a big guy and obviously in incredible form,” McCabe said. “In my mind he’s probably the form player in the tournament. Not just me but the whole team has a big role in stopping him.”
Kepu will pack down opposite Owen Franks as the Australian front row look to prove they are no longer their country’s Achilles heel.
The Australian pack still, however, have the nightmare of being blown away by the Irish forwards during their pool phase shock defeat at Eden Park as a reminder of what will happen if they do not compete effectively.
“Ireland was a wake-up call but I think we’re progressing,” he said. “Last week against Springboks we held our weight. But we’ve definitely got to step up this weekend because the All Blacks are definitely the pack to beat.”
Australia managed to beat champions South Africa with virtually no possession last week — McCabe reckons he had three carries in the entire match — and Kepu said the pack realised that would have to change on Sunday.
“It’ll be up to us in the engine room to provide that platform and the front-foot ball for our backs,” said Kepu. “We’ve just got to muscle up, and fire up, and turn up this weekend and everything else should look after itself.”
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