Anyone at ACT Brumbies headquarters will tell you Connal McInerney has never been one for the red carpet treatment, but he is hardly daunted by the limelight.
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Which is why he won't be rattled by the prospect of launching a bid for a Wallabies jersey after being named as one of 14 Brumbies named among Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's 44 players of national interest.
Five of those players hail from the club's front-row factory, with McInerney joining Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio, James Slipper and Folau Fainga'a on the list.
Now McInerney has a golden opportunity to stake his claim when he starts at hooker for a Super Rugby AU showdown with the NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
Starting in place of a Wallaby, fighting for finals positions against your fiercest rival. Enough to make most guys a little nervous, right? Not McInerney.
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Because he is the kind of guy who was once "ripping into a parmi" at the pub before packing his bags to answer an SOS from Brumbies coach Dan McKellar in 2018. The kind of guy who made a mad dash to Argentina when the club needs to plug a gap last year.
"He's obviously going to add a lot of spark for us in the forward pack," Alaalatoa said.
"He has been given a lot of minutes off the bench, he has been coming on and averaging about 20 minutes, and that just goes to show the coaches have a lot of trust in him and the way he plays.
"It's a great opportunity for him to start the match. It's something he hasn't done in a little while but he has a lot of trust to do his job and if anything, own that hooker spot."
Locky McCaffrey knows he is up to the task, saying "Connal has been probably the best bench player we have had so far this season. He just gets better, since he first arrived at the Brumbies, his growth has been unreal."
Noah Lolesio has been included in the players of national interest list as he edges closer to a return from a hamstring injury, with McKellar is adamant the club won't rush him back early.
Also among the Brumbies 14-man contingent are Nic White, Irae Simone, Tevita Kuridrani, Tom Wright, Tom Banks, Cadeyrn Neville, Pete Samu, and Rob Valetini.
Twelve of the 14 will be on show against the Waratahs, who boast 11 on Rennie's list, with Fainga'a managing a calf injury and Kuridrani being rested with Solomone Kata filling the void at outside centre.
Rennie's declaration that form trumps reputation at the selection table adds another layer of intrigue to the next chapter of a fierce rivalry.
"It's just a credit to the way everyone is individually preparing themselves to get up for games. This competition is a great opportunity for boys to put their hand up for international level," Alaalatoa said.
"The way the Waratahs have been going, this is a huge opportunity for us and the boys individually to put their hand up for selection, and to go toe to toe with other boys who are also in consideration for those selections.
"It's a great opportunity. There's a few boys coming in, there's a bit of change in our squad. All of those boys who have been given the opportunity to play have deserved it.
"Connal and Nev, those two boys have been putting their hands up at training alongside Locky, and then you add that spark in the back line with Sol."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND EIGHT
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
Brumbies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Solomone Kata, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Tom Cusack, 22. Nic White, 23. Len Ikitau.
Waratahs squad: 1. Tom Robertson, 2. Tom Horton, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Ned Hanigan, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachie Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Joey Walton, 14. James Ramm, 15. Jack Maddocks. Replacements: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Te Tera Faulkner, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Hugh Sinclair, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Lalakai Foketi.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
