Queensland Reds halfback Will Genia is thankful James Horwill is back as the veteran pair aim to avoid ending their Super Rugby careers with an unwanted record.
The Reds head into this weekend’s clash with South Africa’s Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in last place and with just one win from eight games in 2015 and a woeful points differential of -116.
Memories of the Reds’ worst Super Rugby campaign, when they picked up only two wins from 13 games in 2007 under former coach Eddie Jones, will still sting for Horwill and Genia, members of that squad.
Former Wallabies skipper Horwill was recalled to the squad after sitting out last week’s clash against the Bulls in Pretoria as he served his suspension for being sent off for the second time this season.
Genia said Horwill still had a lot to offer a desperate Reds team, including a collective confidence boost.
“It’s great to have James come back into the fold,” Genia said from Johannesburg.
“Just his presence. Obviously he captained the club and he was there when we won the competition in 2011 as the leader of this side.
“Just that presence and that knowledge and experience he’ll bring come gametime will definitely benefit the group.”
Genia said the possible return of Wallaby James O’Connor from a calf injury would be another huge step in the right direction for the ailing Reds.
“James will add an enormous amount to the group,” Genia said.
“Plenty of flair, X-factor, a lot of talent and the ability to beat defenders one-on-one, create space for other players.”
Genia believed the Reds could take some heart from their 43-22 loss to the Bulls last week.
“The scoreline sort of blew out at the end there, but if you pick the game apart, we scored four tries which is a big positive and very well constructed tries at that,” he said.
“The positive thing is we’re playing good footy in patches.
“It’s a positive, but it’s disappointing in a sense that we’ve got to start putting it together for longer periods in the game.
“I do think we’re building. The group is buying into how we want to play we’ve just got to clean up little errors.”
Hoges5
Roar Rookie
Best if you have people assume you know nothing rather that start typing and remove all doubt champ....
Hoges5
Roar Rookie
Pformagg - he is actually coming into form. Like EVERY player that has a major leg injury it takes a minimum of 12 months of consistant playing to get back to their best. Horwill, Cooper and Genia were all shadows of their former selves in 2013/2014....check when they all have had long term leg/ankle/hamstring injuries. Jameswm and Rhino have it right. WC are won by old blokes that can play tough (and defence wins world cups too). Rhino - never a truer word spoken, and now we have 5 Super teams there is plenty of space for the youngsters to get experience....need central contracting though. Imagine REDS next year if they had Horwill, SImmons, Kotze and picked up a Caderyn Neville or similar. We might not have lost Hugh Pyle either if there were flexible contracts. Cherish the players is an interesting concept
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
except Horwill has not seen any real form for a few years, I don't think that will change by the WC.
Jack
Guest
Five try's to four,what other Aus team has done that in SAN and who is likely to.Second string Bulls side how .Reds missing more top line players than the Bulls.Stop your whining.I agree with Charging Rinho above.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Couldn't agree more. I rate Horwill highly.
jameswm
Guest
i have been saying Horwill is important to our WC chances. Right now we have three types of locks: Category A - Hard runners, big hitters, soft hands, a handful physically, can offload and put someone through a gap, only so so at lineout time, fair scrummagers - Skelton and Timani Category B - Very good set piece locks, ordinary runners (one is a liability), can get outmuscled and manhandled, fair tacklers, ok at tuck time but fall off clearouts too o ften - Carter and Simmons Category C - promising, can run and hit, looking quite good at set piece, but very green and won't be ready come WC time - Arnold and Coleman And then there is o nly one bloke who can fit into the first two categories - James Horwill. Without Horwill in good form, I think you need to pick one category A lock and a category B. However, if Horwill finds his best form, then you can pick him as the category B lock. That way, all 8 forwards are tough, can hit it up, can hit in defence etc. even our top 3 props (Sio, Kepu and Slipper) can do this. So with Horwill in top form, esp with the way Pocock's going, we could have a tough, skilled and uncompromising pack come WC time. How often do we have one of them?
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
...reminiscent of Monthy Python's Black Knight :: "'It's just a flesh wound!" :)
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Chances of .... what?? Last week they were still talking up their chances of finishing Top 6. Now - only one week later after an embarrassing loss to a second string Bulls side the talk is of the chances of the worst season on record? ... or simply the chances of possibly winning a game?? I understand that the players are unable to say anything else, but FFS - all the positivity in the world means nothing - is almost offensive - if you can't acknowledge where you actually are in reality.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Nonsense I can ever understand Australian fans attitudes towards some of their best players. Cast them out hope a newbie shows up who can replace them. Then yearn after the quality player they let go becuase the young guns aren't cutting it. I'm not a Wallaby fan, but if I was coach then Horwill, Genia and Cooper would be some of the first names on my team sheet. Classy players, (some of whom were debated to be the best in the world in their positions) don't just become bad all of a sudden. Form is temporary, confidence does miracles and class lasts throughout a career. Look at the difference in Habana from 2011 to 2012. These 3 alone literally have the potential to turn the Reds around by themselves. Invest in them instead of cast them aside. They were the glue in the Reds and Wallabies excellent 2011 and they are still young. If only Richard Graham and Cheika could see the leadership potential in them. All I can say is, New Zealand and South Africa treat their senior players completely differently. Include Ireland and Wales too. I can never understand the Aussies attitude to this. The makeup of the Wallabies in 2014 was completely different to the excellent 2011 side, even 2012 side, while many players in the All Blacks and SA team were still there and the results over the past 2 years for both NZ and SA proved the decision was correct to take care of these players.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I totally agree Red Block, even me as a ordiary fan who has been involved with rugby for over 40 years can see no attacking lines of note when the backline is in operation. They just shovel it out and the defence just drifts and shuts anything down. It's like watching under 14s play at club level. Where are the under and over lines, where are the switchs, where are the crossovers, I could go on and on. This is far worse that the Jones era.
Red Block
Guest
'The group is buying into how we want to play.' Really? What is that style of play and how come this style wasn't agree upon in the pre-season? I've watched every Reds game since RG took over and I still can't see any apparent attacking patterns. Their whole plan of attack seemed to be 'give to to Quade and hopefully he'll do something good' or let's run one out for five or six phases and then kick it. Whatever the plan is, it is not working!
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
3 years out of date. They are terrible now and should be expelled with Cooper to France.