‘Running rugby’ – it’s Australia’s new brand on the game. The public has spoken; we want our entire backline to have Carlos Spencer-esque attacking flare and be able to run like the Ella brothers.
The game looks amazing when played this way, but does it always work? No.
We witnessed this on Saturday night, when the Waratahs played the big men from Cape Town. The Stormers’ resilient defence pressured Bernard Foley’s ball running and they just couldn’t find the space out wide to let the back three get across the try line.
A man that many disparage when they hear his name is Rob Horne. But on the weekend, whenever the Waratahs were on the front foot, it was due to the direct running of Horne.
He doesn’t bring the skill set of a Lealiifano, but it was evident from Saturday’s performance that we need a less flashy, harder running 12.
So do the Waratahs need him? Yes – Horne is a hard running outside centre at heart. His transition to inside centre will see him develop his passing game, resulting in a Horne becoming a more complete player.
He is one of the best defenders in Australian rugby and has the one of the highest work rates for contested rucks as a back.
Cheika said Horne’s strong performance in the Waratahs’ 21-15 win over the Stormers in Sydney last Saturday night was a “message” that he needed to try to keep him.
“The defence was swarming, Rob Horne was exceptional at taking the ball and punching through the middle and creating space… I wasn’t thinking of playing Barnes at flyhalf, but Horne was playing really well and I couldn’t take him off.”
“Rob wants to stay. I want Rob to stay. There’s two ticks… He sent a message tonight that I need to keep him,” said Cheika.
What do we think, Roarers?
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