Australia leave James Horwill and Nic White out of World Cup squad
Friday 21 August 2015 10:11, UK
Former skipper James Horwill and scrum-half Nic White were the surprise omissions from Australia's final 31-man World Cup squad.
The surprise inclusions are uncapped Melbourne Rebels prop Toby Smith and promising flanker Sean McMahon who did not play in the Rugby Championship.
Horwill led Australia at the 2011 World Cup and played a part in the Wallabies squad that clinched the Rugby Championship title earlier this month.
Coach Michael Cheika picked four locks: Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons and Will Skelton.
Nick Phipps and the veteran Will Genia are the only scrum-halves in the squad, though utility Matt Giteau provides some cover.
Giteau's recall follows his omission from the 2011 World Cup squad, which caused him to leave Australia and move to France.
Stephen Moore will captain the team at the World Cup and is one of only two hookers in the squad along with Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Flanker Michael Hooper and veteran outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper are vice-captains.
"There's some happy people and some very disappointed people," Cheika said.
"Our primary focus throughout the Super Rugby competition, the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup was to select a balanced squad between youth, experience and form and this squad certainly delivers on this.
"It's also important that we select a squad that will handle the tournament play and our draw in particular at the Rugby World Cup, as well as maintain a strong competition for places in the team."
Horwill, White and hooker James Hanson, who also missed selection, were included in an extended squad to travel to Chicago for a September 5 Test against the United States.
The Wallabies are in the toughest group in the tournament, along with England, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay.
Backs: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Drew Mitchell, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Nick Phipps.
Forwards: Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Stephen Moore (captain), Tatafu Polota-Nau, Greg Holmes, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Toby Smith.
