James Horwill was the big omission from the Wallabies squad to compete in this year’s World Cup that was announced in Sydney on Friday morning.
After leading the Wallabies as captain in the 2011 World Cup, the Queensland second rower now finds himself left at home with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika naming Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons, and Will Skelton as his selected locks in his 31-player squad.
Ironically, when Horwill was named as captain for the 2011 World Cup to replace Rocky Elsom, it was at the same venue as Friday’s announcement – Hangar 96 of the Qantas Sydney Jet Base in Mascot.
Also to miss out was Brumbies half-back Nic White, with Cheika opting to select two half-backs in Nick Phipps and Will Genia, indicating that inside back Matt Giteau will cover for the position.
Horwill and Smith have been named in a 10-man train on squad.
Meanwhile, Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley were named as the two five-eighth picks in the World Cup squad.
All up, Cheika named 17 forwards and 14 backs in his squad that will stay in Sydney until departing for the United States on Saturday week.
Between now and then, the squad will continue its preparation for the World Cup in a week that will also include next Thursday’s John Eales Medal presentation dinner.
In the US, the Wallabies will play their last game before the World Cup against the US Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 5.
The Wallabies begin their the World Cup in which they have been drawn in the ‘pool of death’ against Fiji in Cardiff on September 23.
They then play Uruguay in Birmingham on September 27, followed by England on October 3 and then Wales on October 10 – with the last two Tests to be played at Twickenham.
The Wallabies must finish in the top two of their pool to qualify for the quarter-finals.
31-Man Wallabies Squad for Rugby World Cup 2015
Hookers
Stephen Moore [captain] (96 Tests)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (53 Tests)
Props
Greg Holmes (17 Tests)
Sekope Kepu (56 Tests)
Scott Sio (9 Tests)*
James Slipper (66 Tests)
Toby Smith (uncapped)*
Locks
Kane Douglas (15 Tests)*
Dean Mumm (36 Tests)
Rob Simmons (52 Tests)
Will Skelton (11 Tests)*
Backrow forwards
Scott Fardy (24 Tests)*
Michael Hooper – VC (45 Tests)*
Ben McCalman (40 Tests)
Sean McMahon (3 Tests)*
Wycliff Palu (55 Tests)
David Pocock (50 Tests)
Scrumhalves
Will Genia (59 Tests)
Nick Phipps (31 Tests)
Five-eighths
Quade Cooper (55 Tests)
Bernard Foley (17 Tests)*
Inside backs
Kurtley Beale (52 Tests)
Matt Giteau (95 Tests)
Matt Toomua (25 Tests)*
Outside backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper – VC (108 Tests)
Israel Folau (33 Tests)*
Rob Horne (26 Tests)
Drew Mitchell (65 Tests)
Henry Speight (3 Tests)*
Joe Tomane (15 Tests)*
Tevita Kuridrani (24 Tests)*
*Uncapped at a Rugby World Cup
Extended Wallabies Squad for USA Eagles Test at Soldier Field, Chicago on September 5
Sam Carter, David Dennis, Tetera Faulkner, James Hanson, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill, Samu Kerevi, Christian Lealiifano, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Nic White
