Australian Rugby
Horwill to miss northern hemisphere tour
ESPN Staff
October 21, 2012
Reds skipper James Horwill is helped from the field with injury, Brumbies v Reds, Super Rugby, Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia, May 26, 2012
James Horwill will sit out Australia's tour of Europe © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: James Horwill | David Pocock
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David Pocock is set to be fit for the Wallabies' tour of the northern hemisphere but James Horwill will remain in Australia to continue his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.

Australia open their campaign against France on November 10 but will be without skipper Horwill for the tour. He sustained a hamstring injury while on Super Rugby duty for the Reds back in May and missed their entire Rugby Championship campaign .

Horwill confirmed that he would miss the tour on Twitter: "The reports are true, unfortunately I have had a setback in my rehab and won't be able to make the Spring tour with @QantasWallabies.

"I am extremely disappointed. I couldn't have done anything more to get back in time! This break will ensure I'm 100% in 2013.

"I wish the boys all the best for the tour! I know they will kill it. 2013 for me starts now!"

But while Horwill will miss out on the tour, it seems likely that Pocock will return for the Wallabies. He has been out for the past two months with a knee injury but coach Robbie Deans confirmed, speaking after their draw with the All Blacks on Saturday, that Pocock would be back in the mix for their trip to the northern hemisphere.

Pocock took the captain's armband in Horwill's absence and although he is likely to be thrown back into their starting XV for the tour, despite the good form of Michael Hooper, veteran Nathan Sharpe is likely to continue skippering the Wallabies.

"Sharpie has been fantastic as a leader," Deans said. "He's brought a lot of composure to the group and brought us back on task for what is important at any given moment. He's also developing the people around him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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