Dwyer – drop Horwill and Cooper

THE WALLABIES should drop Quade Cooper and James Horwill if they want to remedy their form slump, says World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer.

Dwyer, who guided Australia to the William Webb Ellis Cup in 1991, pulled no punches in his weekly column for the Green and Gold rugby website.

He felt Horwill, who took over from Rocky Elsom as skipper ahead of the Rugby World Cup, should be stripped of the captaincy and replaced in the run-on XV by veteran lock Nathan Sharpe.

“[Will] Genia as captain ... I actually saw some leadership [last] Friday night,” wrote Dwyer in reference to Genia’s job as stand-in skipper during the 67-5 victory over the USA.

“Sharpe and (Dan) Vickerman, in my opinion, provide a better balance between the No 2 and 4 jumpers, and between the tighter right-side lock role and the ball-carrying left-sider.

“I have not been impressed with Horwill. He gives much the same as Vickerman, but not as well.”

With Berrick Barnes having made his return from injury, Dwyer would like to see the Waratahs man replace Cooper in the No 10 jersey.

“Cooper needs to get his head right, dare I say ‘again’.

“We don't need the all-or-nothing plays, all of the time. Barnes looks our best kicker, both for goal and out of hand.”

The Wallabies play Russia in Nelson on Saturday in their final pool match.