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'Devastated' James O'Connor axed to make way for Wallabies veteran
By AAP
James O'Connor has paid the price for the Wallabies' horror show against Argentina, dumped from the Rugby Championship squad with Bernard Foley recalled after a three-year absence.
The Australians stumbled to a 47-17 loss to the Pumas in their last Rugby Championship outing, with playmaker O'Connor axed for the two home Tests against South Africa.
Coach Dave Rennie named a 35-strong player squad for Tests in Adelaide and Sydney, but skipper Michael Hooper remained absent following his withdrawal from the Argentina leg due to mental health reasons.
Rennie said veteran O'Connor was "devastated" to be axed from the team, which is building towards next year's Rugby World Cup in France.
"James got a crack in the last Test as we saw his experience as very important and wanted him to drive the ship," Rennie said on Thursday.
"We wanted him to implement our plan and we were pretty clunky to be honest, lacked cohesion so he's missed out on selection."
Foley last turned out for Australia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup under then coach Michael Cheika, but with a season-ending injury to Quade Cooper and Noah Lolesio and O'Connor failing to nail down the No.10 jumper, Rennie wanted another option.
The 32-year-old, who has played 71 Tests, has spent the past three years playing in Japan but has kept in contact with Rennie over the past 12 months.
Rennie said his lack of football since the end of the Japan season in May meant he may not be available for the first Test against the world champion Springboks at Adelaide Oval on August 27.
"We've got a lot of our game plan stuff to get a bit of study done and he's been doing additional training and he's been in Sydney with our staff having a decent look at him.
"We will make a call on Bernard once we've got him in camp on Sunday."
Rennie said Lolesio, who didn't play in Argentina, was a "strong chance" to face South Africa in Adelaide.
The Wallabies have also been bolstered by the return from injury of winger Andrew Kellaway, props Angus Bell, Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa, hookers Dave Porecki and Folau Fainga'a as well as centre Hunter Paisami.
"After a tough two weeks in Argentina we're extremely pleased to be able to welcome a few men back into the mob," Rennie said.
"To have their experience on deck will be invaluable in what's going to be a massive challenge coming up against South Africa two weeks in a row."
Waratahs backrower Langi Gleeson, aged 21, has been named for his first national squad after impressing for Australia A.
The team will assemble on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
WALLABIES: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Angus Bell, Jock Campbell, Pone Fa'amausili, Folau Fainga'a, Lalakai Foketi, Bernard Foley, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon, Reece Hodge, Jed Holloway, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Rob Leota, Noah Lolesio, Lachlan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Matt Philip, David Porecki, Pete Samu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Tom Wright.
- Melissa Woods
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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