McCabe at ease as a Wallaby

It has taken some time for Wallaby newcomer Pat McCabe to feel part of the Australian team, but the inside centre now feels right at home playing alongside players that were his heroes.

“I guess having watched a lot of those guys and not having played with them a great deal, you look up to them a fair bit,” he said. “Then being next to them is a different kettle of fish.

“The more time you spend with a group, the more comfortable and confident you feel with them so I think I’ve played enough with Quade (Cooper) and 'Ant' (Anthony Faingaa) that I’m starting to understand the things they do and the way they like to play.”

McCabe has been rewarded for his efforts in Australia’s past two Tri Nations matches, retaining the No.12 jersey to start in the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup 2011 opener against

Italy on Sunday, the team he made his Australian Test debut against in 2010.

While the 23-year-old was confident he had performed well enough against South Africa and New Zealand to make him a starting contender, McCabe says he’s grateful for his coach’s nod of approval.

“Like everyone I was hoping to start,” he said. “I’m very thankful that Robbie (Deans) has kept a bit of faith in me and kept me at inside centre.

The journey begins

“To be involved in what very few guys get to experience is a pretty amazing thing and I’m just really looking forward to Sunday.”

As with all professional players, the World Cup has been in the back of McCabe’s mind for some time, but it wasn’t until the team touched down in New Zealand that he understood the nature of the journey he was about to begin.

“To see all the fans made it very real. I think it was something that seemed hyped in the media and that sort of thing,” he said.

“The number of Tongan fans who were there to cheer them on when they came on to train after us gave me a bit of a sense of how global this event is.”

As he prepares for his Rugby World Cup debut, McCabe says the nerves are just starting to kick in, but it’s something he’s used to.

“I’m pretty nervous around games at the best of times,” he said. “As long as I’m clear with what I have to do then I’ll be fine.”