Kiwi bullies will be good test for the Wallabies’ next weapon |
The evidence that the Wallabies hadn’t forgotten about Brumbies No.8 Charlie Cale during his long injury layoff was discreetly placed at the bottom of every Rugby Australia squad update last year.
There he was, listed as “unavailable for selection” alongside Tom Wright, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Langi Gleeson when the Wallabies announced their squad for the end-of-season tour last October.
Charlie Cale runs into Wales’ defence in 2024.Credit: Getty Images
Bear in mind that Cale has only made two Wallabies appearances, both against Wales in 2024.
For someone with only fleeting exposure to Test rugby, it seemed odd that he was deemed important enough to be included in the “unavailable” list. But four months later, he is Super Rugby’s in-form No.8 and the Wallabies’ subtle messaging – “You’re still in our thinking, mate” – has been vindicated.
And what an athlete Cale is: tall, fast and with a great vertical leap.
His statistics against the Crusaders during the Brumbies’ impressive 50-24 win were incredible: 16 tackles from 16 attempts, with 73 running metres from 15 carries, with two defenders beaten, one offload and one clean break.
Charlie Cale playing for the Brumbies earlier this month.Credit: Getty Images
It was the sort of performance that will have Wallabies fans dreaming about Cale rampaging down the sidelines against Ireland, Italy and France in July.
But an even better examination of his Test readiness will occur when the Brumbies face the Blues in Canberra on Saturday night because their Queensland-bound coach “Stern” Vern Cotter has built a set of forwards who pride themselves on physical confrontation.