Wallaby winger Rob Horne says he’s hoping to avoid shoulder surgery as long as possible and reckons the NSW Waratahs have added a couple of great finishers in recruits Reece Robinson and Zac Guildford.
Horne played no further part in last year’s World Cup after suffering a shoulder injury 10 minutes into the crunch pool game against England.
He has adopted a wait and see policy on the option of surgery.
“I’ve got a few opinions. I was able to get through a few functional things that lent themselves to seeing what happens and that’s what I’ve decided to do,” Horne said on Monday.
“It’s feeling good and I’m feeling confident,” added Horne, who said he was on track to play in the Waratahs’ opening round Super game against old rival Queensland in the last week of February.
Asked if he might delay any surgery until the end of the season, Horne said: “We’ll see where we go. The shoulder is certainly going fine at the moment and I’d like to think I’ll be able to avoid it for as long as I can.”
Horne is one familiar face in an otherwise unfamiliar looking group of Waratahs wingers this season.
NSW has lost Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Betham and Taqele Naiyaravoro to overseas clubs.
Among the replacements are All Blacks representative Guildford and former Brisbane, Canberra and Parramatta NRL speedster Robinson.
“You can see with our additions that we’ve got some great finishers there with Zac Guildford coming in and Reece Robinson has been awesome with his transitions,” Horne said.
“A lot of young guys as well, that are really pushing and putting their hands up.”
Horne has established himself as a winger in the past couple of seasons after breaking into Super and Test rugby as an outside centre.
He said he’d been running a fair bit in the centres during the pre-season but would play wherever new coach Daryl Gibson decided he would be best for the team.
Horne emphasised the Waratahs outside backs were versatile enough to move between multiple positions.
“I think that is key in the modern game in how sides play to win. You have to able to shift. Because the game is so fast, you find yourself in different positions all the time.”
whydoncha
Guest
It could all be as simple as Folau doesn't feel comfortable at 15 and doesn't want to play there anymore. It is not his ideal position. He was shunted there to learn the game and he has excelled there simply because he is the best of a bad lot who can't catch a high ball faced with an opposition charge and I'd suggest courage more than technique is lacking among the contenders. The real question is who do you want at 12? Beale or Folau? This issue hasn't only surfaced under Gibson but was flagged under Cheika. I'd trust more in the expertise of those two than in some of the so called "experts" on this site. Moreover Cheika has a master plan that far exceeds the short term needs of our so called "experts" to be found correct.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Take it easy fanboy.
Cynical Play
Guest
another year of anti-Waratah rhetoric TWAS ?? Looks like it. Yawn.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah they aren't. They're just people who are smart enough to think that if a player is one of very few players (less than 3 I'd say) that has spent the last 2 and a half years as an unquestioned first choice in their position, only the Waratahs would be foolish enough to consider moving them to another position, for no benefit that cannot be achieved in his current position. It may remove him from some situations that highlight his shortcomings, but only to create other situations that create shortcomings (such as defense). Izzy will be defensively weakest outside center in the world. He has neither shown to be a very astute in defensive positioning, nor robust in defensive contact.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes he and Beale particularly could provide a lot of the breakthroughs. If you've seen much of Guilfords game a lot of his strength is finding the gaps in the opposition by popping up beside the ball carrier at the right place and time, at pace. The standard memory of his game isn't so much the touch line runs, it's those up the middle, always looking for gaps. So to be effective he will need a 10 and midfield that can time and pass a short ball well. Because he'll be looking for them all day.
RobC
Roar Guru
No need to apologise Chook. Its all excellent fun. wrt too perfect. Does it mean its too perfect, you miss the performances? Or something else. Your Seppo friend, like Kane Douglas and a fair few new Queenslanders, has good taste in states ie the Sunny State Like you Tman and a bunch of people, he also has solid taste in music. TMan, Eagles era will be forever, in their songs. I could never tell which of their tunes I could say was my favourite.
Bakkies
Guest
He was one of the few clear standouts in very poor teams.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Am with you on Horne, Twas, I do live Rob at 12.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Matt Carraro actually holds the title for most recent experience at 13 in the squad. However I'm not seeing much upside in his play, and suspect he is performing about as well as he can. Think he is a good guy to have in the squad but am hopeful that someone can step up and perform more strongly than he performed in the last couple of seasons.
Squirrel
Guest
Izzy will be the best 2016 outside centre in the world. All these people saying he can't play 13 are the same people who said he would not make the wallaby 15. Kellaway should be and will be the 15.
Cynical Play
Guest
"...a mouth-watering variety of possible combinations..."
Taylorman
Guest
Yes very sad re Glenn Frey. Big Eagles fan, particularly the writing and tunes that he and Don Henley as the backbone of the group, carved out together. End of a very long era.
cuw
Guest
he has been in stricter places (called all blacks) and still managed to lose his marbles sso.....
Machooka
Roar Guru
It's a long bow you draw cuw... I'm thinking (geez I've been doing it a lot today) that the culture at the Tahs is so far removed from anything Zac experienced in France he might, right now, be thinking he'd just joined a monastic order ocalled the Tahs!
cuw
Guest
guildford was fat and slow in France. if he has got out of that then maybe he will play well; if not he will be rubbish.
Taylorman
Guest
Very interesting seeing Guilfords name in the backline. It's a backline he'll love playing in too. He's always looking for work coming off his wing regularly and will run off players all day long. Just hopes he's still got his pace and 'go for it' attitude. What a backline, looking forward to it.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Too funny but very sad RobC... and when I heard the news of his passing I immediately thought of you, and THAT recent article of yours. I had the pleasure of seeing them many times, and they were always so perfect, I'd wished they hadn't been. I hope that makes some sense. A septic mate of mine, who now lives here, is devastated. He's a huge fan, and it just so happens to be same age as Glenn. Yes indeedy... a bit of reflection goin' on in that house today. Another Corona, but sadly alona will be the de rigueur. And as the lucky bastard lives on the beach, looking out to the GBR in FNQ, I'm sure the sounds of west coast US of A will be carried along on the sea breeze :) Apologies about the wisecrack comment before, but your comment reminded me of it... and frankly I couldn't let it go!
Hello
Roar Rookie
I agree with this RobC
Cynical Play
Guest
Getyour facts right and your hand off it TWAS. Get a sense of humour while your at it. Thought you might have got one for XMAS...
RobC
Roar Guru
HAHAHAHAHA Mr Chook. GOOD ONE! :D I prefer to wear boxers mate. Is that TMI? In any case, I think its something else that raising my BP. Im guessing its the price of oil! Which is v important in my part of the world. Also, the passing of so many greats, late last year were footie players. All of a sudden its a bunch of actors and singers I just mentioned the Eagles in the article, and today I hear news that the great Glenn Frey has passed away. RIP