McCabe and Peku ready for the challenge

WALLABIES Pat McCabe and Sekope Peku could be forgiven for blanching at the prospect of facing the All Blacks in the World Cup semi-finals having just nursed themselves back to health after a bruising encounter with the Springboks last weekend.

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.”