Wallabies great James Horwill believes the Queensland Reds were showing similar signs to that of his all-conquering championship side, and the time had come to turn that into Super Rugby success.
Upon being inducted into the Queensland Rugby Union Hall of Fame, Horwill outlined the way in which success at a domestic level was paramount to triumph on the international stage.
In 2011, the enforcer led the Reds to the title, and followed that up by captaining the Wallabies to the Tri Nations trophy and a third-place Rugby World Cup finish.
Former Wallabies captain James Horwill was inducted into the Queensland Rugby Union hall of fame.Credit: Getty
Four years later, Australia finished second – losing the final to the All Blacks – just a year on from the Waratahs’ premiership victory, the last time and Australian outfit lifted the Super Rugby Pacific trophy (then including teams from South Africa).
Horwill said what was key for his victorious squad was the connection the group had built – many from their schoolboys days – and felt, despite a run of four-straight quarterfinal exits, the 2025 edition had the similar makings to catapult Australian rugby back to prominence.
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However, he stopped short of suggesting a premiership within the next two season was a necessity in delivering World Cup glory.
“I don’t know if it’s a necessity; obviously, success at Super Rugby levels you’ve got players who are playing well, so they deserve to go to the next level, and you’ve got players in form in the Test level – that’s that flow-on effect,” Horwill said.
“Traditionally when a team performs well at the Super Rugby level they get the majority of the Wallabies squad, which then gets some carry over with some continuity into the national set-up. We want the four Super Rugby teams in the top half of the table winning, performing, and getting that confidence.
