Enever steps up in surprise Test debut

NOT since Michael Whitney was plucked from league cricket in Lancashire to bowl in the 1981 Ashes series has a more unexpected Test debut been hatched against England than that of Wallaby Blake Enever.

Just as Whitney filled in when fast bowlers fell all around him, Enever stepped up at Twickenham yesterday for a surprise initiation because six Test-toughened locks were either injured or out-offavour.

Former clubmates at his old Easts club in Brisbane were celebrating the rise of the “Swamp Donkey” because Enever, 26, should be proud of a busy 10-tackle debut and his role in an immovable scrum during 60 minutes of action.

“I’ll cherish this and it’s a part of history that no one can take away from me. I’m very happy to get my debut and have this hat,” Enever said with his honour cap as Wallaby No.916 on his head.

When asked if such an honour was even on the horizon a month ago, the Brumbies forward was honest.

“I don’t know if I would have agreed with you,” said Enever, who first tasted title success in the Sunshine Coast Grammar First XV in Queensland a decade ago.

“It’s unreal to get a debut at Twickenham and it was probably a blessing in disguise that it (the call-up) happened so quickly because I just had to go straight into preparation for the game.”

Top lock Adam Coleman (thumb) pulled out on match eve.

His return to Australia for minor surgery means Enever is staring at another Test chance in Edinburgh early on Sunday morning (Queensland time) against a resurgent Scotland only denied an equalising try on full-time against the All Blacks yesterday by a fine Beauden Barrett cover tackle.

“Obviously, I’d put my hand up again,” Enever said. “Test footy is that next step up and the speed is pretty unreal.”

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika gave the 26th Test debutant of 2016-17 a solid pass mark.