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About a year ago I watched happily as James Horwill was dumped from the Wallaby captaincy and the starting XV.
When he continued to be part of the Wallaby squad this year I sincerely thought he was just marking time until the younger, more dynamic locks usurped him.
But Kane Douglas has moved onto greener pastures (literally by moving to Leinster), Sam Carter has begun to show some cracks in terms of his work-rate, Will Skelton is still only a bench option, Luke Jones may be better suited to the no. 6 role, and Cadeyrn Neville hasn’t really had a chance.
Horwill was just not the same player since the horrible leg injury he sustained some time ago. But on Saturday he played the house down, and as a Wallaby fan that makes me smile.
If there is a player in the Wallaby squad that fits the somatotype and has the attributes Michael Cheika will want, it is Horwill.
Cheika has always looked for a talisman that fits his ideals in the forwards, with a licence to get stuck in. At Leinster he brought Rocky Elsom into his line–up, and if you were lucky enough have witnessed his 14 man of the match awards from 19 matches, you’ll know what Cheika likes his talismans to do.
This will doubly be certain if you noticed Cheika’s use of Jacques Potgieter for the Waratahs, who he had play the same role that Elsom did in Leinster.
Cheika had both these players hit it up wherever they liked, inter-play with backs that supported them, rush up and hit hard in defence, and smash into any vulnerable ruck. Both of these players quickly become local cult heroes, because they put fear into the opposition.
Cheika may see Horwill as his man to do the same for the Wallabies, and as a result Cheika is going to get more out of Horwill than past coaches.
Horwill certainly has the physicality and if his work rate remains as it did against the Barbarians he is going to put pressure on Carter or Rob Simmons for a Wallaby start.
Simmons should be worried, as Horwill is an under-rated line-out operator. Carter has a high work-rate, so I doubt Cheika will be looking to discard him.
Simmons needs a big game because he really hasn’t come on as we’d hoped. Sure he is our best line-out lock but can we keep carrying his lack of presence in the other facets when players like Horwill offer so much more around the park?
Skelton is the lock that needs to sit on the bench as he can offer the most impact. The rest of them are jostling for the two starting spots.
Regardless of what happens, well done to James Horwill – you made the biggest impression from the first game under Cheika.
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.