Backrower Charlie Cale has revealed how he fought through a shoulder injury to live out his Wallabies dreams.
In Cale's words, the backrower had 'the full thing done' surgery-wise on his shoulder as he prepares to return to full contact in the next fortnight with a view towards an early season return.
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This includes a latarjet procedure, rotator cuff and bicep tendonitis repair after fighting through the initial knock suffered in round two against the Chiefs.
"I had 2 weeks off (after the Chiefs game) and then basically every game after that I had some niggle or little stinger come into it. It was kind of like a ticking time bomb really because it just obviously wasn't getting better because it was internal damage," he told Rugby.com.au
"I knocked it again in the semi-final against the Blues and it wasn't great then and then had a stinger episode in both of those Wallabies games (against Wales).
"I was carrying it and the Wallabies coaches then said we need to think about it and the decision was made to have surgery."
It makes Cale's season even more remarkable, establishing himself as the starting number eight in the ACT before earning a Test debut against Wales.
"It's been frustrating at times but recently getting back out in the field and being around the boys more is much more enjoyable," he said.
"Obviously having been able to debut was extremely special and the potential for more of that in national footy was cut short but that's life and my shoulder was no good and I just wasn't able to produce 100% of the field.
"I think subconsciously it was probably holding me back a little bit but I'm looking forward to getting my body right and getting back out there.
Knowing how close he was to a Wallabies call-up powered Cale through the pain before the decision was made after the July series to go under the knife.
"You get lucky to get in (Wallabies camp) anyway and then to be able to play is even more so lucky," he explained.
"No matter how you're feeling if you get pulled into a Wallabies camp or you might represent a country, it doesn't matter really how you feel like you've just got to do it and it's just a job you've got to do.
"Usually after Super season most people in there are carrying something, there's no one really that's fresh after Super season.
"It's the excitement of 'I'm here so I've got to try and play', you've just got to get through anything to play and that's what my mentality is."
It paid off for Cale, debuting in the first Test of 2024 before getting a maiden start a week later.
"It was one of the best days of my life," he reflected.
"To be able to debut in Sydney where I'm from and have my friends and family there in Sydney as well it's just something I'll never forget."
Cale wants to reclaim his spot in the Wallabies squad but understands the competition at the Brumbies needs to be his focus.
"There's still a lot of good competition here at the Brumby so I've still got a mindset of putting my hand up to be available for selection every week and then whatever happens in the future happens in the future," Cale added.
"We've got five or six quality back rowers that have all represented Australia or Australia A and if you can get back into training, you're training with some of the best players in their position in the country with only four Super Rugby teams.
"The more you can get back into training and start training with those types of guys, the better you'll feel, the better you'll play and the better the training is.
"There's always a little bit of, there's always healthy competition wherever you play in whatever team, whatever age group you are so I think it's healthy."
