Cowan in Wallabies line-up
When Western Force prop Pek Cowan's phone rang on Tuesday night, he didn't recognise the number and let it ring out.
When a message to call the same number came through soon after, wife Megan suggested he check it out.
Fortunately he took her advice. It was Wallabies manager Rob Egerton wanting Cowan to pack his bags and head to the Australian training camp.
Two days later, he was named in the squad for tomorrow's season-opening Test against Samoa.
Cowan, who missed out on initial selection in the 40-man squad for the Sydney Test and the Tri-Nations series was called in after NSW front-rower Benn Robinson was injured and ruled out for the season.
He is determined to make the most of the opportunity.
"I've been going through a rollercoaster of emotions the last couple of days," he said. "Initially I was disappointed at missing out on selection, then there was excitement at getting a call and now I'm shocked and feeling very humble to have been told I'm in the match squad."
Cowan, 25, played his first game in eight weeks last Saturday for Warringah in the Sydney Shute Shield after breaking his cheekbone playing for the Force.
"My main goal after the injury was to keep in tip-top condition," he said. "I feel I've done that. Physically I feel great and the mental aspect of what has happened is coming.
"I just want to make sure I take my opportunity. I'm living in the moment because nothing is a given and I want to enjoy it while I can.
"I want to make sure this is not a one-off thing. I'm here now and 100 per cent committed."
Cowan's international career took a slight stumble when the specialist loosehead was asked to move into the hooking role by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans in 2009. He wore the No.2 jumper for the first three rounds of the 2010 Super competition when the Force's hooking stocks were depleted, losing form and missing out on national selection.
"Hopefully that idea is done and dusted. Now I'm covering loosehead and I can focus on that role," Cowan said.
Cowan will make his fifth Wallabies appearance with Force teammates Nathan Sharpe, Ben McCalman and Matt Hodgson and the departed James O'Connor against Samoa.
Hodgson will make his starting debut. His previous four appearances have come from the bench.
Samoa will go into the game with a near full-strength side of overseas-based players against Australia.
Highlanders hooker Mahonri Schwalger leads a team that includes five players from New Zealand and England, two each from France and Japan, and one from Wales. Eleven of the team's players have Super Rugby experience. Did you know? 4 The number of games Western Force prop Pek Cowan has played for the Wallabies
