Wynne Gray: Curious choices in bunch of crocks

Robbie Deans. Photo / Getty Images

Strewth. Forget the pre-ordained, stage-managed World Cup announcement from the Wallabies.

While many rugby greats from the Sunburnt Country had been imploring Robbie Deans to pick Matt Giteau in his squad, none of them envisioned there would be a captaincy change.

Deans had stuck with Rocky Elsom even as he battled to get back from injury and when he did, he scarcely deserved his Wallaby place.

However, Deans retained his skipper and then after the Wallabies held on for a rare win against the Boks in South Africa, he dumped his captain on the day of the World Cup squad announcement. That logic seems unusual.

Clearly Elsom did not warrant his place in the Wallabies starting XV this season, but Deans included him and left him as leader. Why he would then leave him to soldier on with that work and those duties, only to open the trapdoor yesterday, is baffling.

Deans' explanation that Horwill was "the player best equipped to handle the all-round responsibilities associated with captaining the side", was as strange as his late axing of Elsom.

Other choices are also curious. Deans and his panel picked a split of 17 forwards and 13 backs, no Matt Giteau, no Benn Robinson who is recovering from knee damage, but a clutch of others who are just off the casualty stretchers or into minimal rugby work.

Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, James Slipper, Salesi Ma'afu and Tatafu Polota-Nau are recovering from broken bones, concussion, knee or ankle surgery. Take that lot out and it leaves Deans with a bare minimum of 22 players who could be classed as sharp and fit now for the starting XV and reserves.

His acceptance of that crocked lot underlines the lack of international depth in Australia, compared to the overload of talent the All Blacks have in some positions like wing. Deans will argue the eight will recover and are in a different class to the other candidates.

Probably so, but the omission of Giteau smells of player-coach estrangement. Giteau has not been as sharp this season as he might, but he has 92 caps, the experience of several other tournaments and the sort of versatility most squads yearn for.

The Wallabies play Italy, Ireland, USA and Russia in their section and Giteau's ability to play any position in the backline would have been invaluable in the easier matches or as multiple cover from the bench.