Robbie Deans announces Wallabies final 30-man squad for 2011 Rugby World Cup Campaign
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has announced their final 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign. Wallabies head coach, Robbie Deans, ststed his final contingent on Thursday, August 18, at a press conference.
The 2011 RWC’s official website has confirmed the announcement of the Wallabies squad in a press release on their website on Thursday, August 18.
Deans has also appointed Queensland Reds 2011 Super Rugby championship winning captain, James Horwill, as the skipper of the Wallabies for their 2011 RWC campaign. Deans expressed his confidence in Horwill’s abilities, skill and personality attributes required
to the handle the responsibilities.
Horwill has replaced Rocky Elsom as the captain of the team. However, Elsom has retained his place as a player in the Wallabies 2011 RWC squad.
The 30-man squad announced on Thursday contains eight players, who represented the Wallabies in the 2007 RWC, which was played in France. These eight players are Elsom, centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, fly-half Berrick Barnes, back row forward Wycliff Palu, winger
Drew Mitchell, front row forward Stephen Moore, and second row duo of Dan Vickerman and Nathan Sharpe.
Elsom poor run of form in the 2011 Super Rugby competition and in the Wallabies international tests in the season so far, have been cited as the main reasons for the decision to appoint Horwill as captain.
Horwill is the 77th test captain appointed in the history of the Wallabies. Commenting on the appointment of the new captain, Deans said, “It is well documented that Rocky came into the Test season off a limited background in terms of preparation,
having missed all but 60 minutes of Super Rugby due to injury.”
Deans further added, “We all felt it was in the best interest, both of Rocky and of the team, to relieve him of the extra duties, with James's recent experience making him the best option to take over in the role.”
The Wallabies final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC campaign consists of the following:
Backs: Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, Drew Mitchell, Digby Ioane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Pat McCabe, Anthony Faingaa, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Nick Phipps, Luke Burgess, Will Genia.
Forwards: Ben McCalman, Radike Samo, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill (c), Rob Simmons, Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Salesi Ma'afu, Stephen Moore, Saia
Faingaa, Tatafu Polota-Nau.
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