Horne gets vacant Wallaby spot
Rob Horne named as final member of the Australian team to play New Zealand in the Tri-Nations Finale in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Waratahs centre, Horne, is in-line to return to the Test arena after being named as the final member of the Wallabies bench for Saturday’s series decider against the All Blacks.
Horne, who celebrated his 22nd birthday 11 days ago, most recently appeared for Australia against New Zealand at Melbourne during last year’s Tri-Nations.
He was added to the Wallabies bench after impressing for the Australian Barbarians during the 38-14 win over Canada at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Friday.
Horne scored the first try of the match and made a strong contribution for the BaaBaas throughout the first half before being subbed off at half-time in preparation for Saturday’s assignment.
Friday’s match against the New Zealand-bound Canadian World Cup squad furthered Horne’s rehabilitation from the elbow injury that had brought an early end to his Super Rugby season.
Although not named in the original Wallabies squad of 40 last month, Horne trained with the group while he worked his way back to full match fitness via the Southern Districts club in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition.
He was subsequently named in Australia’s 30-man squad for the World Cup last week, and selected to start for the BaaBaas.
Should he feature from off the bench at Suncorp Stadium, Horne will be playing his seventh Test.
He made his international debut during last year’s 49-3 win over Fiji in Canberra and featured in the opening six Tests of the 2010 Test season before his year was brought to a premature end by injury.
Australia – revised: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga’a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Salesi Ma’afu, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Rob Horne.
Date: Saturday, 28 August 2011
Kick-off: 20.05 (10.05 GMT)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
