James O'Connor flown to South Africa
Former bad boy James O'Connor is flying out to link with the Wallabies squad in South Africa even before signing to return to Australian rugby.
O'Connor got the chance after winger Marika Koroibete was allowed to remain in Melbourne for the imminent birth of his second child.
Rugby Australia says O'Connor, who wants to return ahead of this year's World Cup, will join the squad on a train-on basis only.
It's understood 29-year-old O'Connor's contract talks with the Queensland Reds are progressing well and a deal is likely before the opening Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday week.
The 44-Test utility back will be joined on the flight by injured backrow star David Pocock, who is to continue rehab on his problematic calf muscle while in South Africa.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika expects Koroibete to rejoin the squad well before the Springbok Test but meanwhile RA were able to switch his flight booking over to O'Connor.
“Marika (Koroibete) should join us later in the week, but mother nature is in charge here, so until then it’s a good opportunity for James to integrate into the team playing principles," said Cheika.
“For David, we really want to do some specific rehab work with him and it’s just better to have him with us at this stage to ensure we get his return to play exactly right,” Cheika said.
While his previous career in Australia was marked by several off-field indiscretions, the gifted O'Connor received praise from his latest employers, English club Sale, for his contribution there last season.
Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond says O'Connor goes with the club's full blessing.
"He is an exceptional talent and we will be sorry to see him go."
Former Wallaby Matt Giteau said it would be "a waste" if Australian rugby's former golden boy O'Connor doesn't get another opportunity at Test level.
- AAP
Latest Comments
You forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time.
Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
Go to comments