Brumby star steps into Horwill's boots
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:40
In and out: New Wallaby lock Peter Kimlin
Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin was named on Thursday as the replacement for injured firebrand No.4 James Horwill on the Wallabies' November tour to Hong Kong and Europe.
Kimlin, 23, becomes the 13th new player to be introduced to the Wallabies this year under the rebuilding programme of coach Robbie Deans.
Horwill was ruled out last week to have foot ligament surgery.
Deans said Kimlin had been identified as a player of potential whom his coaching staff were looking to develop.
"The opportunity for Peter has come a little bit earlier than we had perhaps anticipated, but he is certainly a player that we were looking to promote," Deans said.
"He was part of the Australia A programme earlier in the year where he did very well. His performance there told us that he was a player who had the capability to step up to the next level."
Kimlin performed solidly for the Brumbies this year in his first full Super 14 season
after his debut last season while contracted to the Brumbies Academy.
His inclusion lifts the Brumbies' representation in the 34-man touring squad to six, with Kimlin joining Mark Chisholm, Adam Ashley-Cooper, George Smith, Ben Alexander and tour skipper Stirling Mortlock.
The touring party departs for Hong Kong on October 27 and will open the tour with the final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year against New Zealand there on November 1.
The tour also includes Tests against Italy, England, France and Wales as well as a match against the Jake White-coached Barbarians, which marks the 100th anniversary of the first Wallaby tour of Britain in 1908.
AFP
