- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Deposed skipper James Horwill is under immense pressure to keep his place in the Wallabies team with lineout general Rob Simmons returning from injury.
Horwill is battling to stay in Australia’s starting pack to play Italy as coach Ewen McKenzie warned no player could feel settled due to their dreadful 3-8 Test record this year.
Struggling to find his A-game, the 44-Test lock was stripped of the captaincy for last weekend’s 20-13 loss to England where he produced an improved second-row display at Twickenham.
But Simmons’ ability to shrug off his knee problem in training, plus his form and starting importance as lineout caller, means one lock will make way.
Sitaleki Timani struggled on the slippery Twickenham surface but his previous impact off the bench had put him ahead of the former skipper before Simmons’ injury ensured they both started the tour opener.
McKenzie admitted he got the desired outcome – a more energetic display by Horwill – against England, but didn’t get the result.
He is keeping his selection cards close to his chest as well as choice of captain for Sunday morning’s (AEDT) Test against Italy in Turin but Ben Mowen is expected to stay as leader.
Mowen is set to shift from No.8 to 6 in the back-row after Scott Fardy was ruled out due to a head knock, opening the door for Ben McCalman to return to the back of the scrum.
“I’m open-minded about leadership and team selections,” McKenzie said.
“I’m not going to make it comfortable until we start getting outcomes.
“I’m not committed to anything. I don’t think, given our circumstance that we can say anything is locked in.
“At this stage, with four Tests left and where we’ve been, no one can feel settled.”
McKenzie has already shown this year that no one is safe, after dropping world-class halfback Will Genia two months ago.
After being sparked back into form, Genia had a poor game with the boot against England, including a charged-down box kick that gifted the home side their first try.
McKenzie put the onus on his No.9 to execute better under pressure as he was being targeted in that facet of his play.
It was a disappointing moment given we had been tracking pretty well (at 13-6 ahead),” he said.
“In the end you’ve got to execute under pressure, and we didn’t.”
The loss of Fardy is a genuine blow as the fearless flanker has been one of their most dynamic forwards since starting against the All Blacks in late August, and Italy play a highly-confrontational game.
But it’s been tempered by Simmons returning, and damaging hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau putting himself closely in the mix to play his first Test of an injury-riddled year off the bench.
Australia have sorely missed Polota-Nau’s power game after a broken arm put him out of the Lions series loss and a hamstring injury ruled him out of the Rugby Championship.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.