SYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Australia captain James Horwill is hoping to be fit for the spring tour of Europe after missing the whole of the international season to date with a hamstring injury.
The Queensland lock suffered the injury in a freak incident in Super Rugby in May and is one of three Wallabies skippers lost to injury this year in what has become known as the “captain’s curse”.
Nathan Sharpe, the fourth player to hold the office, came through Saturday’s 23-19 comeback victory over Argentina in the Rugby Championship unscathed, but is set to retire after the final home test of the season against New Zealand on Oct. 20.
Horwill admitted that he had yet to start high intensity training or to test his recovery in contact but his return for the matches against England, Italy and Wales in November and December would be a boost to the Wallabies.
“I’d like to get on that tour and play some rugby to finish out the year,” Horwill told The Australian.
“I’d love to get back on the field. I’ve had enough of training and doing rehab.
“I’d like to get back and play rugby, but in saying that I don’t want to force it and risk re-injury or injuring something else.
“I want to make sure I’m 100 percent right to go. If everything continues the way it is, I’m hopeful that can happen.”
Although Australia have rallied from successive defeats to the All Blacks in the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship with comeback wins over South Africa and the Pumas, they have yet to set the rugby world alight this season.
Continued…
