Matt Giteau obviously says way too much, Rocky Elsom nowhere near enough.

Mouthy Giteau's omission from the Wallabies' World Cup squad is sad, maybe even silly, but despite his incredible talent, they can win the thing without him.

Pulling Elsom's pants down at the last minute, however, is pretty bloody rude.

Clearly they've stripped the guy of the captaincy because he doesn't dribble cliches to the media and pronounce fatwas against the opposition mid-game. He's also under the gun to hold his starting spot, despite leading by example in a rare Wallaby win in South Africa last weekend.

Coach Robbie Deans says the pressure of the captaincy on the verbally frugal Elsom, has been too much as the inspiring flanker makes his way back from an entire season on the sidelines with injury.

As Deans made his pitch, I'll swear Elsom twitched and moaned -- and have you ever seen a sadder bunch of goons than that squad? There was no obvious reason for them to look so utterly dejected unless they really were actually subjected to a long haul flight in economy on Qantas before ‘deplane-ing' for the selection announcement.

Take nothing away from the new captain James Horwill as he is enormous and if he chooses to hit you, it will hurt. That aside, he was inspirational for Queensland in the Super 15 and obviously the Wallabies want to tap the momentum the Reds had, um, a fairly long time ago.

Anyhoo, the guy to feel really sorry for is Matt Hodgson. A workhorse who pretty clearly played through injury on occasion and got shoved because of the perceived need for bulky bastards. Now David Pocock has no real scavenger back-up -- that ain't right and it might bite.

Ben McCalman grabbed Hodgson's spot with Deans and his co-selectors David Nucifora and Jim Williams likely anxious to have big-boy cover for the fragile Wycliff Palu and aging Radike Samo whose fantastic hair was reason enough for a place in the squad.

The big question mark over the team, to use a cliche Elsom would never use, is ‘injury clouds'. A half dozen key players, seemingly, just squeaked by the white-coated, bespectacled medical examiners.

There's a few weeks to go before the start of the tourney, so Deans must feel he can get the crocks cooking in time, but if they lose a few, especially in the backrow, they'll be mumbling Hodgson's name under their breath and summoning his never say die spirit, if not the Central Coast man himself.

Bottom line is the squad is brim full of talent. If everything goes right, they'll meet the All Blacks in the final at Eden Park where the Wallabies haven't won for 25 years and they'll beat the wonderful mongrels.

Personally I would have included myself and a mate, who's always fun on tour in the squad as well as Giteau for Barnes and Hodgson for McCalman. And Rob Horne -- I don't know, they must love that boy. Other than that, and a (c) next to Elsom's name, it's pretty predictable.

Here's a few frequently asked questions I copped on my walk home in Manhattan tonight. They don't know a lot about rugby in New York, but they are very inquisitive and quite insistent.

Q: Identify the weakest links in the Wallaby squad, m**f**

A: No 8. Much depends on Palu's fitness. The midfield is also a concern. The centres will be targeted in attack and defence -- there's great potential for Australia at 12 and 13 but the Kiwis, especially, will be focusing on our inexperienced combinations.

Q: Why don't you watch where you're walking f**?

A: Sorry.

Q: What about the scrum. Sucks, right?

A: No. I think the Wallaby scrum will be one of the strongest at the tournament. The loss (to injury) of Benn Robinson is significant, but we have the personnel. The inclusion of James Slipper is particularly pleasing.

Q: Who are the key players for Australia?

A: Quade Cooper, Rocky Elsom, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Wycliff Palu. The Australians will win it if they play Quade's game, but they need to build a powerful platform.

Q: Really, can the Wallabies win it all, douchebag?

A: Yep. Most certainly. The big threats are New Zealand, South Africa, and maybe England and France. Oh, and, apparently, Matt Giteau -- though we no longer have to worry about him.

Q: You remember CBGB's in the late 80s.

A: Yes, yes I do.

Q: This Elsom thing? They had to get rid of the captaincy, right? I mean, he isn't even going to be in the team.

A: I wouldn't be dropping him after he engineered a fantastic and rare Wallaby victory over South Africa in the republic last weekend only weeks into his comeback.

Q: What's the great unknown about this World Cup?

A: The refereeing, as usual. How they ref the breakdown will decide the tournament. There has been decent officiating consistency in recent years, but certain officials are still wanton match changers and they are the International Rugby Board's favorites.

Q: Dude I wished America played rugby!

A: They do.

The Wallabies' World Cup squad:

NAME               POSITION     CLUB                   AGE  CAPS

Ben Alexander   Prop         Brumbies                   26   28

Adam Ashley-Cooper Fullback-Wing Brumbies    27   55

Berrick Barnes Flyhalf/Inside Centre  Waratahs   25   31

Kurtley Beale    Fullback        Waratahs                   22   18

Luke Burgess  Halfback      Waratahs                  27   32

Quade Cooper   Flyhalf            Reds                         23   27

Rocky Elsom    Flanker        Brumbies                 28   68

Anthony Faingaa  Inside Centre Reds                     24     6

Saia Faingaa    Hooker            Reds                       24    31

Will Genia          Halfback           Reds                      23     26

Scott Higginbotham Loose fwd  Reds                 24     5

Rob Horne         Centre              Waratahs                 22    6

James Horwill (c)  Lock          Reds                       26    27

Digby Ioane        Wing                  Reds                     25   15

Sekope Kepu   Prop              Waratahs                 25     7

Salesi Ma'afu     Prop                 Brumbies                28   10

Pat McCabe  Centre/Wing/Fullback  Brumbies  23    5

Ben McCalman  Lock/Loose Forward W Force      23   12

Drew Mitchell     Wing             Waratahs                 27   55

Stephen Moore   Hooker           Brumbies                28    59

James O'Connor   Fullback   W Force                 21    30

Wycliff Palu       No 8               Waratahs                  28    36

Nick Phipps     Halfback           Rebels                 22      2

David Pocock   Flanker            W Force                  23    33

Tatafu Polota Nau  Hooker    Waratahs              25    25

Radike Samo     No 8               Reds                        35     7

Nathan Sharpe  Lock            W Force                  33    96

Rob Simmons     Lock               Reds                       22     8

James Slipper     Prop             Reds                      22    14

Dan Vickerman  Lock             Waratahs                  32    57