Ankle keeps Horwill sidelined

James Horwill's ankle injury has yet again meant that he will unable to take the field for the Reds against the Waratahs this coming weekend.

Horwill was yesterday ruled out of Saturday night's interstate grudge match at Suncorp Stadium as the Reds take a cautious approach to his ankle injury.

The Queensland Reds must face an all-Wallaby Waratahs forward pack without test skipper James Horwill, whose long-awaited return to Super Rugby has again been delayed.

The Wallabies lock has not played for nine months after tearing his hamstring against the Brumbies last May.

Horwill was due to make his return from hamstring surgery in Queensland's final pre-season trial but rolled his ankle badly in training three days before the game against the Chiefs.

He was again expected to return against the Waratahs but Reds coaching boss Ewen McKenzie said he would run the water against the Waratahs while Rob Simmons, Adam Wallace-Harrison and Ed O'Donaghue shared time in the second-row.

While Brumbies coach Jake White last week believed Horwill's non-selection for the Reds' 24-6 loss was a ruse, McKenzie reiterated his skipper would "definitely" miss the round two clash.

"He's not quite ready yet.

 "So rather than mess around there we'll just continue on," McKenzie told AAP

AAP