Anthony Faingaa

Inside centre Anthony Faingaa will run on for his Investec Super 14 starting debut against the Highlanders on Saturday night in the CA Brumbies’ first home match of the season at Canberra Stadium. Faingaa will form a new look centre combination with Tyrone Smith, who will also make his run-on debut. Brumby Jack caught up with Ant prior to Saturday’s clash.

Brumby Jack: What went through your head watching the CA Brumbies’ match against the Crusaders last Friday and seeing both Gene Fairbanks and Adam Ashley-Cooper go down with injury in the first half?
Anthony Faingaa: It was obviously disappointing to see two of your team mates get injured but it’s presented a great opportunity for me. I thought there may have been the possibility that I might be called into the squad but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.

Brumby Jack: Has it been frustrating having to bide your time behind Gene for the past few years?
AF: It has been a little but it’s something every player goes through. Before Gene there was Gitty [Matt Giteau]. We’ve always had great backlines at the Brumbies with guys like Stirling Mortlock, George Gregan and Stephen Larkham. But now these guys have moved on there’s an opportunity for new players to make their mark and make a name for ourselves and everyone who’s involved in this week’s team is really looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

BJ: You played three Investec Super 14 matches off the bench last year. What do you see as the main differences between starting as opposed to coming on half way through a match?
AF: When you start I think your intensity levels are a lot higher, you work yourself up and it’s a lot easier than trying to get yourself in the right frame of mind when you don’t know when you might be called into the game off the bench. But I can’t wait to get out there and test myself against some of the best players in the world.

BJ: Your twin brother Saia made his rugby debut a year before you. Have you reminded him this week that you’ll be making your run-on debut ahead of him?
AF: No, not at all. Saia and I have always done things in twos: he’ll make his debut before me but I’ll start before him, or he’ll captain a team one year and I’ll captain it the next. It all seems to even itself out. We’ve been really lucky to have played with each other through our careers and really lucky to still be playing together today. When we were at school people told us that we wouldn’t play together but now we’re playing Super 14 together – it’s just a dream come true.

BJ: Will all your family be out to watch you on Saturday night?
AF: Absolutely. The family comes out even if Saia and I aren’t playing. They’re massive Brumbies supporters and we all have been since the Brumbies first started. But they’ll definitely be out there and I can’t wait to get out there and play in front of them.