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Horwill youngest Reds skipper
April 15, 2008
QUEENSLAND'S generational change has lifted James Horwill to the captaincy and set the scene for a mouth-watering individual battle with Nathan Sharpe on Friday night.
The 22-year-old lock will become the Reds' youngest ever Super rugby skipper when he lines up at Suncorp Stadium against the Sharpe-led Western Force.
The honour comes just over two years since the abrasive forward, nicknamed Big Kev, made his Queensland debut in the wake of former Reds skipper and lock Sharpe's move west.
With both competing for one of two spots in the Wallabies second row, the duo's line-out and general play battle was already one of the most eagerly-anticipated duels in the interstate derby.
Reds coach Phil Mooney's naming of Horwill as his fourth captain in six weeks - following the dumping of John Roe and injuries to Sam Cordingley and Chris Latham - has shone the spotlight even brighter upon the pair.
"That will be a really exciting head-to-head battle there," said Reds hooker Stephen Moore, who may have earned the captaincy if not for his imminent departure from Ballymore.
"I think it's an excellent call by Phil. It's probably time to look to that younger generation as leaders and I think he's matured a lot in the last 12 months.
Finally keeping his cool while maintaining his signature aggression earned the one-Test Wallaby the nod over Roe, another former skipper in David Croft and fullback Clinton Schifcofske.
The Reds' 40-8 upset over the Bulls last month showed off his improved discipline.
In the corresponding match in 2007, he was sin-binned after taking up a reckless one-man crusade during the embarrassing 92-3 thumping in Pretoria.
Baited by Springboks and Bulls lock Bakkies Botha at Suncorp Stadium, Horwill took it all in and produced a bone-crunching performance to legally outmuscle his opposite number.
"Discipline is something I have worked on this year - learning to harness my aggression rather than just going out there headless," Horwill said.
"It's an honour for me to play for Queensland and to be selected as captain is a tremendous thrill and very unexpected."
Not since Mark Loane in the 1970s has Queensland been led by such a youngblood.
"Kevvy has really matured this year and has become one of our most consistent players," Mooney said.
"He's always been an aggressive character on the field but under forwards coach Mark Bell he's learned to become a more disciplined player.
"It's time for him now to take the next step in his development as a senior rugby player and this appointment is recognition of that."
As expected, prop Ben Coutts replaces the injured Greg Holmes at loose-head, Schifcofske moves to fullback for Latham and Ben Lucas slots in for halfback Cordingley.
Dual international Andrew Walker has been recalled to the 22 after a stint with the Australian Sevens team.
AAP
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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