Horne Ruled Out of Bundaberg Red Tri Nations

[Darren]

Qantas Wallabies centre Rob Horne has been ruled out of the remainder of the Bundaberg Red Tri Nations Series after scans in Melbourne today revealed a small fracture in his right elbow.

The 20-year-old, who last night appeared in his sixth Test, will return to Sydney tomorrow while the rest of the Qantas Wallabies squad heads to New Zealand to prepare for this weekend’s second Bledisloe Cup Test of the year against the All Blacks in Christchurch.

Horne will require surgery for the injury, which also includes ligament damage, and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

“It’s bad luck for Rob, but he’s made an encouraging start to his international career, starting in every Test that we’ve played this year,” Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says.

“It’s very disappointing, especially to be leaving the team midway through the series, but my focus now has to be getting the surgery and beginning the rehabilitation,” Horne said.

“I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to wear the Wallaby jersey. Now having had that experience, I will be looking to work through the rehab and get back playing Super Rugby, to put myself in a position to get back into the Wallabies set up.”

Horne’s place among the 24-man party that is going to Christchurch has been taken by Queensland Reds loose forward Scott Higginbotham.

Higginbotham, Western Force loose forward Ben McCalman and Western Force winger Cameron Shepherd will all fly to New Zealand tomorrow to join the Wallabies after featuring for their clubs yesterday.

The Qantas Wallabies depart for Christchurch in the morning.

[hertryk]

Bugger....!!! Wasn't aware of that happening!!!

[WF2006]

Mitch Inman for #13!

[jono]

spanner?
or AAC, and shep in to wing

[zimeric]

my guess

10) Giteau
11) Mitchell
12) Barnes
13) AAC
14) Sheperd
15) JOC

JOC & Sheps might swap though..

[TOCC]

9. Genia
10. Barnes
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. AAC
14. JOC
15. Beale

I dont particulary like that lineup, but its probably the likely lineup based on Deans previous selections, other options could include bringin Sheperd/Turner into the starting team,

[Hoolly Doolly]

Crikey !!!
BEALE!!!

TOCC do you think Faingaa is capable of playing 13?

[TOCC]

He could probably play it, think its unlikely though, i dont think a Barnes-Faingaa centre combination is a very good mix.

[GIGS20]

I'd go with
10 Barnes
11 Mitchell
12 Gits
13 AAC
14 JOC
15 Shep

using Faingaa and Turner as Bench Cover. Beale hasn't pressed any of my buttons and the flexibility is on the field, so why not play some specialists on the bench??

[James]

We need a bigger backline. You look at New Zealand and their only ball player is Carter (91kgs). We have Giteau(85)/Barnes(87)/JOC(84). Not to mention Rob Horne (85). We give away about 8kgs a player on average compaing our two backlines. That try Richie McCaw scored wouldn't have happened if it wasn't two small backs trying to secure the ball.

[zimeric]

scary to think that Mitchell was our biggest back on the weekend..

need Inman & Sheps to even up the scores there i think

[James]

scary to think that Mitchell was our biggest back on the weekend..

need Inman & Sheps to even up the scores there i think

Adam Ashley Cooper is bigger but Mitchell was number 2. You are definitely right though. It's bloody scary.

With a fly-half as good a Quade Cooper we should be look next year to play Giteau at 12 and have Ioane, AAC and Shepherd as the powerful/quick runners and maybe Hynes or Davies. How much does Hynes weigh?

[oxleymoron]

A left field option that I have read elsewhere - Higginbotham at 13. He has plenty of speed for someone of his size and adds a pilferer to the backs to assist Bam on defence. If we are going to play with ball in hand, why not use a larger option to crash into their defence (like nonu does for the ABs)

[AndyS]

I had a similar thought - if the plan is to keep the ball in hand and not kick, surely what we want is large ball runners rather than a bunch of small lads. People who can hit the ball moving, hammer the line and offload having committed the tackler.

[jono]

spanner?