Brumbies centre Pat McCabe won’t alter aggressive running style despite two neck injuries

HE promised his mum there’ll be no “stupid risks” but Pat McCabe says he won’t be dialling back his aggressive style.

HE promised himself - and more importantly, his mum - there’ll be no “stupid risks” but Pat McCabe says he won’t be dialling back his aggressive style when the Brumbies centre returns to action on Saturday night from a broken neck.

Or, to be more precise, a second broken neck.

McCabe was named at inside centre for the ACT side to play the Reds in Canberra, eight months after suffering a fracture in his C1 vertebra while playing for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane.

It was the same spot in the same bone McCabe had fractured playing for Australia in November the previous year.

“As soon as it happened I knew. It was the exact same feeling as last time,” McCabe said.

“I guess the feeling was just not really wanting it to be broken again, to be honest, because I know the process you go through once it happens. I knew what was coming wasn’t pleasant.”

A second six week-stint immobilised in a neck brace and months of losing then regaining all strength followed; not to mention rounds of scans and doctors visits where McCabe didn’t know if the end of his career was ten minutes away or ten years.News_Rich_Media: Queensland flanker, Ed Quirk has no doubts performing well in Australian Conference darbies, like the Red’s clash with the Brumbies on Saturday night, can enhance your national selection prospects.

“There were a few times with both injuries that I wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen, or with scans here and there if it was bad news I might not have got here,” McCabe said.

After another long and torturous rehab and a final all-clear in December, however, McCabe returned to full training again for the Brumbies and will this weekend play his 50th Super Rugby game.

“I always had the desire to keep playing. It was just a matter of physically whether I’d be able to,” McCabe said.

“Having an injury like that puts it into perspective more than ever. Rugby is just a small part of my life, but it’s one if possible, I wanted to keep pursuing. I feel like I am not taking stupid risks, and I wouldn’t do that. I am really comfortable with where I am at.”

Brumbies staff have watched either of his broken neck incidents on tape again, but McCabe hasn’t and won’t ever. He knows they were both due to “compression” on the point of his head.

But will he change his trademark style of direct rugby? Finding the collisions?

“There are parts I have changed, but it is still rugby. You still have to hit rucks and make tackles and run hard,” McCabe said.News_Rich_Media: The Australian Super Rugby season gets underway in less than a week and after a breakout season last year, Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua is primed to take things to a new level in 2014. Alana Smith caught up with him at his home in Canberra.

“Contact is part of the game and I never came back from injury thinking I would have to play soft, or change my mindset. If you are going to play you have to play full on.”

McCabe’s mum, who almost stopped him playing rugby as a boy because it was too rough, has been a pillar of support, and ultimately left the decision to play on up to her son.

“She will be fine once she watches one game and gets through (tomorrow night),” McCabe said.

“If there is anyone sitting in her vicinity I apologise in advance.”

McCabe will partner Andrew Smith in the centres, with Christian Lealiifano still a month away from returning from ankle surgery and Wallaby Tevita Kuridrani named on the bench after serving his five-match ban for a spear tackle against Ireland.

Jarrad Butler will debut for the Brumbies at No.8 in a backrow also containing the returning David Pocock, and skipper Ben Mowen.

New faces Lionel Cronje, Conrad Hoffman and Lachie McCaffrey were also named on the Brumbies bench.