Robbie Deans produced the biggest selection shock in Australia's Rugby World Cup history by stripping Rocky Elsom of the captaincy on Thursday but there could be no safer bet.

Upstanding citizen, in-form lock, Queensland Rugby Union board member and proven leader James Horwill is Elsom's replacement as Wallabies skipper.

No one has embodied "reliability" better than the 26-year-old Queenslander who took the Reds to the Super Rugby championship last month.

There are no off-field concerns regarding Elsom but, after failing to fire in an injury-plagued season, he could no longer guarantee his selection in the Test XV.

Certainly not like Horwill, nicknamed Big Kev from "I'm excited" TV commercial fame.

Reserve flanker Scott Higginbotham has made a major impact off the bench to pressure Elsom, who is also off-contract and without a home at any of Australia's five Super Rugby franchises next year.

There have been doubts over his ability to produce his best since April when Wallabies great Tim Horan called for Horwill or Will Genia to be made captain to allow Elsom, one of the world's most destructive players at his best, to focus on finding top form.

That's what Deans has done a bare three weeks before the World Cup kicks off in New Zealand - with the hope positive change will inspire his side.

Horwill's rise to become Australia's 77th rugby union captain caps a remarkable comeback just a year after he was forced to sit and watch the entire 2010 season due to a knee reconstruction.

While he was rehabbing, Test No.9 Genia took over the Reds reins superbly as former easybeats Queensland finished one place from the semi-finals.

Coach Ewen McKenzie was under pressure to retain Genia as captain this year but had no doubts Horwill was his main man - as much for his efforts off the field as on.

"Will did a great job leading the team but James was still working in the background, taking the pressure off the team," McKenzie told AAP.

"He was involved in executive meetings, he continued on in his role for the team, fulfilling promotional commitments, and never used rehab as an excuse.

"He's a selfless bloke.

"I'm a big fan of his as a leader. He does everything you want so I'm not surprised he's got the call. He'll do a very good job."

Deans has also been a big fan, especially of his steel and grit, since he took the Wallabies coaching helm in 2008.

At that point Horwill had played a sole Test and narrowly missed 2007 World Cup selection when he was one of the last players nudged out of John Connolly's squad.

An on-field hot-head at the time, Horwill learned from his mistakes quickly to become the Reds' youngest leader in 33 years when made captain by Phil Mooney a year later at just 22.

Deans' decision on Thursday allows Australia to follow the lead of Queensland with Horwill leading up front and Genia, described as the Wallabies "mastermind" by All Blacks star Daniel Carter, calling the attacking shots.

It's a logical rather than risky bet, especially compared to Deans' other surprise in overlooking a specialist back-up for openside flanker and ball scavenger David Pocock.

He has rolled the dice that Pocock will go through the tournament, including hundreds of ultra-physical breakdown contests, unscathed.

No room was found for Pocock's Western Force partner-in-crime Matt Hodgson nor workaholic Reds open side flanker Beau Robinson.

Neither would get much, if any, time behind the world-class No.7 if he stays fit.

But a minor injury to Pocock, particularly in the cut-throat knockout stages, would force No.8 Ben McCalman to play the important pilfering role or see the vice-captain replaced from the tournament for good to call in a specialist.

When Deans has opted for two halfbacks to back up Genia, plus three No.8s in McCalman, Wycliff Palu and Radike Samo, it's a needless gamble which could backfire with huge ramifications at the business end of the Cup.

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