Rob Horne is the best defender that I’ve seen in living memory. Given a few more kilos in the years to come, he looks like he might start cutting people in half as well.
When the Australian Schoolboys beat New Zealand for the first time in a while, Horne was an axe. I haven’t seen one attacker this year or last get past him.
He just has ample speed to let them get on the outside and put them into some Tiquiri hurt or pull them down himself.
Sure, in attack he still has a bit of maturing to do. But given that he has the second fastest 40m sprint time in Waratah history, surely this kid is gonna be our next Giteau in the centres at the top level.
The lines he runs are superb and clearly it takes a big set of kahoonas to keep accepting borderline hospital passes from Beale night after night. Yet, I’ve never seen him hesitate.
Deans made him go on the U21 Australian team instead of picking him for the Wallabies, where he picked up a groin injury that looks to be behind him.
Now that he’s fit, do you think he can edge out James O’Connor?
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March 5th 2009 @ 10:30am
Harry said | March 5th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Hammer is spot on that having no Australia A is a big negative for developing Australian rugby. Fortunately Horne and O’Conner are still eligible for U/20 and that is where they should play before any thought of test caps (I am convinced O’Conner was rushed into Wallaby colours to quarantine him against being poached by NZ or SA).
March 5th 2009 @ 11:00am
Who Needs Melon said | March 5th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
It would be interesting to see what the Wallaby squad would look like if it were picked right now.
If it were I would expect to see Horne in the squad as at least a reserve. I expect Mortlock would get 13 and and Barnes would get 12. I’m not saying I agree with this but that’s what I think would happen. Personally I’d prefer to see Giteau at 12, Mortlock at 13 and someone else (Barnes, Cooper, Beale) at 10.
I’d say Mortlock would rightlfully get the 13 jumper because he is the only EXPERIENCED 13 in the competition who is playing well at the moment… despite the fact that he’s not playing at 13 at the moment.
The other contenders for 13 are Ioane and Ashley-Cooper. Ashley-Cooper has experience but I don’t think is going that well. I have a feeling this is at least partly because he has been switched around in positions so much recently. Ioane is obviously playing really well but has very, very little experience.
By the end of this Super 14 season if Horne has continued to play at the level he has, I think there’s every possibility he could make the run-on side in the 13 jumper with Mortlock (or someone else) at 12.
If all players continue playing at their current level I think we will be left with a very nice dilemma to have in terms of who we pick where.
March 5th 2009 @ 11:14am
Roger said | March 5th 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
WNM…you dont like Cross at 13?
Interesting artcle about Josh Valentine yetesreday….if he gets a full season in, he might threaten Burgo…having said that, if Mooney keeps picking Lucas, we might not get a chnace to see darkhorse Will Genai knock them both off for HB
March 5th 2009 @ 11:21am
Jameswm said | March 5th 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Who needs Melon – The team right now is obvious except in a couple of positions, esp 15 and 6
Shepherd? Turner? SNK? Mitchell??
Tuqiri
Mortlock (c)
Barnes
Hynes
Giteau
Burgess
Palu
Smith
Mumm/Brown
Horwill
McMenimen/Mumm – note no not-so-Sharpe
Baxter
Moore
Robinson
BENCH
Polota-Nau
someone who can play tight AND loose head – Shepherdson or Henderson I guess
???
Brown
Holmes/Sheehan
AAC
One other back – maybe Ioane as a game-breaker or Mitchell
Greg Holmes, Ben Alexander and some others can come into contention throughout the season if they do well enough.
March 5th 2009 @ 12:48pm
Worlds Biggest said | March 5th 2009 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
I agree with Hammer, ease up on the Hype machine re Horne, Beale, O’Connor, Cooper, Pocock et al…
Yes they are all talented players doing well in Super Rugby at a young age however comparisons to Horan, Little is ridiculously premature and not fair on these kids. Horne does look good however I remember other tall rangy outside centres such as Jason Jones-Hughes ( sorry Spiro ) and Luke Inman being talked up early yet both were solid Super players at best. Let Horne and the other youngsters get on with there footy and let’s have this chat in another year or two.
March 5th 2009 @ 2:18pm
Who Needs Melon said | March 5th 2009 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Roger, no – I don’t rate Cross at the moment. He’s played well in the past but at the moment… Sorry. Also not a long term prospect as opposed to Horne – i.e. I think horne is only going to get better whereas Cross and Mortock are in their twilight.
Jameswm, fair call. I agree apart from the fact i’d be putting Horne on the bench instead of AAC right this very moment.
Worlds Biggest, I agree with this too. I hope I am not adding to the “hype”. You are 100% correct – the media always seem to be searching for the next ‘hero’. A nice, even development into a good player seems to bore the pants off journos.
March 5th 2009 @ 3:43pm
jacko said | March 5th 2009 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
He’s hits are as good as Frank Bunce’s in my book (and I’m not even a kiwi!) and anybody who smashes people like Bunce used to gets a big tick from me!
March 5th 2009 @ 4:42pm
WorkingClassRugger said | March 5th 2009 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Horne is showing something the others with perhaps the exception of Pocock haven’t. Out and out aggression in defence and a preparedness to get in your face physically against the likes of Nonu and co. Nonu hardly showed up in their round one clash because he was contained, by whom, not Tahu. Horne is very Horanesque and destined to wear the green abd gold.
Plus for the Wallabies backline of the future I favour giteau at 12 and Horne at 13. Why, you might ask, well Giteau would give you another play maker alongside the chosen playmaker(Beale and Cooper should be made fight it out over the next 2-3years) and Horne is the future(many would probably dismiss me as a nutter this suggesting this but Mortlock hasn’t got long left, with his poor form this year, and yes I watched the first game and his penalty kick, but he hasn;t really done enough to be considered our best and with his age and the sheer levels of punishment he has incurred serving his country the toll is beginning to tell, but of course I challenge him to PROVE ME WRONG!, I actually do rate the guy).
March 5th 2009 @ 7:20pm
ohtani's jacket said | March 5th 2009 @ 7:20pm | Report comment
Is Horne this year’s Tahu?
I have my doubts over whether Deans will replace Giteau with Barnes, Cooper or Beale. He needs to shift Mortlock back to centre and bring in a second five. The obvious choice is to have Barnes alongside Giteau and have them play the sort of duel role that was successful until Barnes was injured. The worst mistake he can make is playing that Mortlock/Cross midfield. That was a shocker.
March 5th 2009 @ 7:27pm
Phil Coorey said | March 5th 2009 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
What’s with all the hyperbole here lately? Best defender ever?? Jesus