Brumbies flanker Colby Faingaa will return to the Brumbies starting line-up for the first time in over two years as the only run-on change made for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with the Blues in Auckland.
Faingaa’s ascension to the run-on side is due to a strained medial ligament suffered by veteran flanker George Smith, which will also make room for Jordan Smiler on the bench.
Wallabies centre Pat McCabe’s knee injury has also cleared room on the bench, with Clyde Rathbone to make his first appearance for more than a month.
Faingaa, 22, burst onto the Super Rugby scene three years ago as the 19-year-old younger brother to Wallabies twins Saia and Anthony.
However the former Australian under-20s captain has had a hard time cracking the starting line-up since, first playing back-up to Wallabies No.7 Michael Hooper, and then arguably Australia’s two greatest opensides David Pocock and George Smith.
His last run-on game being against the Western Force in May 2011, Faingaa said he’ll be taking this weekend’s opportunity with both hands to help the Brumbies snap a two game losing streak.
“Obviously it’s going to be a massive step up for me. The team is obviously going to expect a lot from me since they’ve had George and David as their no.7,” Faingaa said.
“Hopefully I can do as close a job as I can to what they were doing.”
Faingaa said he was more focused on proving to himself, rather than anybody else, that he was still up to Super Rugby level.
“It’s been frustrating in parts. I’m thankful for the opportunity that I get when I do play. Obviously my main goal is to start every week,” he said.
Faingaa’s rollercoaster wait on the Brumbies’ bench has culminated in him signing a deal with the Melbourne Rebels for 2014.
With the Brumbies currently topping the Australian conference – yet Pocock expected to return to the starting side in 2014 – Faingaa said it had left him with a tough choice.
“Getting a lot more game time was the main factor. I’ve been at the Brumbies since I left school. I’ve loved every moment of it and it was a very hard decision,” he said.
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (capt), Colby Faingaa, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Res: Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith, Fotu Auelua, Jordan Smiler, Ian Prior, Robbie Coleman, Clyde Rathbone.