Horne picked for clash with Force

[travelling_gerry]

Horne picked for clash with Force

April 8, 2008 - 4:26PM

In his first year out of school, Rob Horne admits he would have been delighted with a NSW Waratahs bench spot this season let alone starting one of their biggest Super 14 games.

But that's what the 18-year-old finds himself doing after being named at outside centre for the sixth-placed Waratahs, replacing the injured Ben Jacobs for Saturday's night key clash with the fifth-placed Western Force at Subiaco Oval.

The youngster showed enough after coming off the bench when Jacobs ruptured a knee ligament in Saturday's 37-16 victory over the Blues to convince coach Ewen McKenzie he could handle the starting job.

"At the start of the year I would have been stoked with a bench spot, but to get an opportunity to start against the Force is amazing," said Horne.

"I'm really excited, but having played a few times off the bench already I now know what to expect.

"The Force have a great backline with guys like [Matt] Giteau, [Scott] Staniforth, [Cameron] Shepherd, [Drew] Mitchell, so it's going to be a really tough game for the whole 80 minutes."

Horne joined the Waratahs after playing in the Australian Schoolboys team last year.
"It's only Rob's first year out of school but he's come on in leaps and bounds since joining us and keeps meeting every challenge that's put in front of him," said McKenzie.

"We identified and signed him two years ago with a view to 2009 and beyond, but he put himself in contention during the trials and after a few solid performances off the bench he gets his chance to start this weekend."

After a strong performance for his club Randwick last weekend, Matt Carraro takes Horne's place on the bench and could make his NSW debut.

"Matt's had an injury interrupted pre-season, but he's overcome a groin problem and came back strongly," said McKenzie.

"He's a genuine No.13 who can also cover inside centre and wing, and like Luke Burgess did the previous week he's pushed himself into the selection frame by performing well in club rugby.

NSW Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (captain), Dean Mumm, Dan Vickerman, Will Caldwell, Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, David Lyons, Beau Robinson, Brett Sheehan, Matt Carraro, Alfi Mafi.
AAP


http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/s...420376245.html

[Jehna]

Jacobs out for the season

7/04/2008 5:00:12 PM
Steve Orme
Sportal

The Waratahs' initial fears have been confirmed with centre Ben Jacobs to miss the remainder of the Super 14 campaign with a knee injury.

Jacobs, who has not missed a match for the Waratahs since the start of the 2007 season, suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during his side's emphatic win over the Blues on Saturday night.

Scans conducted on Monday revealed the extent of the damage, with the 25-year-old to undergo reconstructive surgery on Thursday.

"It's really bad luck for BJ because he's made the No.13 jersey his own over the last couple of years," coach Ewen McKenzie said.

"He's a hugely underrated player and a good organiser in our backline so he's going to be missed."

With NRL convert Timana Tahu already sidelined with a hamstring injury, McKenzie admits his midfield resources are running low but is confident he can find a solution.
And while McKenzie conceded the obvious choice would be to shift winger Lote Tuqiri into the centres, he would not rule out turning to youth in Jacobs' absence.

"He's (Tuqiri) obviously played Test football at 13 but you've also got to be mindful that you can move him in there but the (other) solutions we've got at the moment are young, exciting but inexperienced solutions," McKenzie said.

"So you can have them (younger players) in the centres or on the wing - it depends how you want to do it."

Should McKenzie opt to play it safe, 19-year-old flyer Alfi Mafi would likely move onto the wing outside Tuqiri.

However, 18-year-old Rob Horne may have done enough off the bench against the Blues to earn a shock call-up to the No.13 jumper for Saturday's pivotal clash against John Mitchell's men at Subiaco.

In better news for the Sydneysiders, in-form flatmates Wycliff Palu (knee) and Tatafu Polota-Nau (shoulder) are both available for selection in the 22-man squad to be named on Tuesday.

[force addict]

Wycliff Palu & Dan Vickerman, Adam Freier, David Lyons
I quite like all those players. as wallabies though, defs not tahs

[jono]

and even their wallabies spots are in jepoardy. which is good

[GIGS20]

Horne picked for clash with Force

"The Force have a great backline with guys like [Matt] Giteau, [Scott] Staniforth, [Cameron] Shepherd, [Drew] Mitchell, so it's going to be a really tough game for the whole 80 minutes."

Impressive that he mentions pretty much the entire backline apart from the guy who's going to CUT HIM APART on Saturday! (that gentleman being Ryan Cross)

[jono]

hes probably thinking if he doesnt mention him. cross might dissapear.
to his backwards NSW mind, the saying would probably be 'out of mind out of game'