Wallabies lock James Horwill must spend the rest of 2010 rebuilding his horrifically-injured knee in a devastating blow to the Queensland Reds Super 14 campaign.

Skipper Horwill is set to undergo a knee reconstruction this week after rupturing ligaments in his right knee and also sustaining other serious joint damage.

The injury, likened to that which almost ended the career of Tim Horan in 1994, requires nine months of rehabilitation before he can get back on the paddock.

Coming to terms with the news, the abrasive 24-Test lock wants to speak to renowned knee surgeon Peter Myers on Sunday before commenting.

Horwill suspected the damage was severe when carried off Suncorp Stadium midway through the Reds’ stirring 41-20 upset of the Crusaders, their first over the seven-time champions in 11 years.

But the nine-month sentence was an unwelcome surprise for the 24-year-old who had started the Super 14 on fire.

“I’m just disappointed for him,” said Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie.

“Normally serious knee injuries mean six months (out) but nine months is a long haul.

“The good news to come out of it is it’s an injury he’ll be able to make a full recovery from.

“While the rehabilitation period is a long one, the knee will be as good as new when he returns.”

The means Horwill can start 2011 confident he can work his way back into Robbie Deans’ Test team for the World Cup in New Zealand at the end of the year.

“It’s early days and it’s a bit daunting for him but he’s in a reasonable mental state and he’s already told me he wants to stay involved helping the team,” McKenzie said.

Horwill will meet with McKenzie on Monday to discuss what off-field roles he can play in helping the Reds continue to move out of the Super 14 doldrums while managing his rehab program.

McKenzie confirmed on Saturday vice-captain Will Genia, seen as a ready-made replacement, will take over as skipper.

Genia is 10 months younger than Horwill was two years ago when he became the youngest man to lead the Reds since Mark Loane in the 1970s.

However, replacing him in the Reds pack will be harder task.

Horwill is the team’s most influential and damaging forward and can play both lock or blind-side flanker.

Queensland will have Van Humphries back from a head knock to play the Blues at Ballymore on Saturday.

However, they have only have a bare minimum three fit second-rowers in their squad, including Adam Byrnes and Rob Simmons.

There are no others on Reds Academy contracts but McKenzie said he won’t rush into bolstering his squad immediately.

“He’s our only Test forward at the moment so he’s a loss,” he said.

“It tests our depth and gives other people the opportunity to step up.

“We’ve got to keep our focus on the Blues game and these things can be a distraction which James doesn’t want it to be.”

Deans must also find a new pack enforcer but the injury opens the door for Western Force veteran Nathan Sharpe, 32 next week, to storm back into Test contention after missing last year’s Grand Slam tour.

© AAP 2012

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