Why Genia could be the Wallabies greatest inspiration | Thebigtip

Halfback Genia leads way in toughness stakes - by Greg Growden at smh.com.au

WILL GENIA yesterday showed the spirit the Wallabies require to be a Tri Nations threat - having an operation on his broken thumb in the morning, training in the afternoon and declaring he is ready to take on the Springboks and All Blacks.

The Wallabies halfback was a late arrival at the Tri Nations squad's first training session yesterday but he had a good excuse. He had just flown in from Brisbane, where he had two pins removed from his fractured right thumb several hours earlier.

That operation did not deter the Australian playmaker, as he was soon on Coogee Oval doing most of the work. The only sign he was returning from injury was a heavily strapped right thumb.

At the end of training, Genia declared that, despite missing the win against Ireland in Brisbane last month because of the fracture, he would be ready for the Wallabies' match against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium on July 24.

Much will hinge on a Brisbane club game on Saturday, but Genia believes he is ready to regain his Test halfback spot.

''I've been working hard the past three weeks, running every day,'' he said last night. ''Trust me, I've been busting my gut. I'll be good. I know I'll be good. I know my body.''

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