Coach Ewan McKenzie continues to shake-up Australian side.
Flanker James Horwill has been stripped of the Wallabies captaincy ahead of the upcoming Test match between Australia and England in the Autumn International serie
In a stunning move by coach Ewan McKenzie, Horwill was lucky to hang on to his place in the starting side with the injury to Rob Simmons saving his from a further fall from grace.
McKenzie handed the the captaincy to Ben Mowen and elevating Quade Cooper to the vice-captaincy.
“I just want James to concentrate on his football,” McKenzie said. “There’s a few technical things for him to focus on, plus I feel he needs to concentrate on playing and giving us what he’s good at.
“I feel it hasn’t been there in recent weeks.
“He’s in the starting team now, that’s what we’ll talk about as the team going forward
“I look at everything around form and at the moment I think he’s got more in him.
“I’m going to concentrate on that. We need his A game.
“I think he’s been a little bit off the pace in what he’s capable of delivering and I want him to focus on that.”
Horwill’s last two games for the Wallabies were below par efforts and he was subbed off before the end of the game, something unheard of when he is in his prime.
McKenzie said Horwill needed to find that “abrasiveness” around the field that made him one of the best backrowers and players in world rugby.
WALLABIES: 15. Israel Folau 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper 13. Tevita Kuridrani 12. Matt Toomua 11. Nick Cummins 10. Quade Cooper (vice-captain) 9. Will Genia 8. Ben Mowen (captain) 7. Michael Hooper 6. Scott Fardy 5. James Horwill 4. Sitaleki Timani 3. Ben Alexander 2. Stephen Moore 1. James Slipper. Reserves: 16. Saia Fainga’a 17. Benn Robinson 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Kane Douglas 20. Ben McCalman 21. Nic White 22. Christian Leali’ifano 23. Bernard Foley.
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