No surrender as Pat McCabe braces for long, hard road to recovery

PAT McCabe's neck has been broken for a second time in seven months, but the unwavering Wallabies centre has vowed to return bigger and better.

Pat McCabe

PAT McCabe's neck has been broken for a second time in seven months, but the unwavering Wallabies centre has vowed to return bigger and better next year.

While Australia battled the British and Irish Lions in the Test decider at ANZ Stadium last night, McCabe watched from the stands, unable to turn his head too quickly to follow the action because of the neck brace he must wear 24 hours a day.

Had it not been for the insistence of Wallabies team doctor Warren McDonald for McCabe to stay down on the Suncorp Stadium turf after he had broken the same bone in his neck as he did in November last year, it could have been disastrous.

After his injury during the first Test, McCabe remarkably took the ball for another run before knocking on. A heavy hit there might have finished his career.

"I was involved in a ruck and it went on for a while, I thought the ball had gone, so I relaxed a bit," he said.

"One of their guys counter-rucked and I had a lot of pain in my neck.

"I ended up getting back into play, we knocked the ball on and the doc said 'Don't move'."

McCabe, 25, realised the pain was identical to when he broke the bone in his neck during the Wallabies' spring tour, and was stretchered into the dressingroom.

"It was tough sitting under the stadium watching the rest of the game on TV, I was pretty down at that stage because I had a gut feeling that I was going to be out for a long time," McCabe said.

While the bone was completely broken last November, this time scans revealed half a break.

"It was really stressful not knowing what the outcome would be, but the surgeon said this should heal well," McCabe said.

"I am not sure if it was weaker and that's why I broke it again, and he doesn't know either. But he thinks I will heal stronger this time, more so than last time."

McCabe will have seven months of rehabilitation, eyeing a return to the ACT Brumbies during Super Rugby trials next year.

"It's a chance to come back bigger and better," he said.

"I will be out for longer.

"Last time I did it in November and was playing in March. This time, having done it in June, I won't be back until February next year."

McCabe's mother Pauline was so fearful of her son getting injured she did not allow him to take up rugby union until he was 13.

"She can be very vocal about her concerns, she can be pretty painful to be around when I play," McCabe grinned.

"I don't imagine my comeback match will be much fun for anyone sitting within a 20-metre radius of her. But my parents are the same as me - not as scared this time.

"I've had the same thoughts this year (when will I get a break from injury?), I look at guys who have had bad runs and then come through completely fine.

"I've said it many times before, but I seriously hope this is the last time I get injured."

McCabe is doing a commerce/law degree and has been completing exams in the past three weeks while preparing for Tests and getting various scans in hospital.

But he is far from ready to put his boots away to pick up documents just yet. Asked why he is continuing amid such serious injuries, McCabe replied: "It's not being satisfied with what I've achieved so far.

"There are so many things I want to achieve in the game that I haven't.

"I am not ready to give up."