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James O'Connor set for first Reds appearance in five years
By Online Editors
James O'Connor is set to make his long-awaited return for the Queensland Reds in Friday's Super Rugby trial match against Melbourne Rebels in Gladstone.
The Wallabies utility last played for the Reds five years ago, released from his contract that came in between stints in France and England respectively.
But O'Connor returned to Australian rugby with a point to prove, earning a World Cup spot last year and he is now keen to help end the Reds' seven-year finals drought.
O'Connor is part of coach Brad Thorn's 28-man squad to face the Rebels in one of just two pre-season hit-outs.
World Cup duo Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Taniela Tupou have also been named, along with new skipper Liam Wright, who made his Test debut last year.
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However fellow Wallabies Izack Rodda and Jordan Petaia have been rested, along with off-season recruit Henry Speight, who has a fight on his hands to earn a starting spot on the wing this season despite boasting 19 Test caps.
A logjam of backrowers will also compete for minutes before their first-round clash with the Brumbies on January 21.
They include Junior Wallabies talent and last season's National Rugby Championship rising star Harry Wilson, 20 and Fraser McReight.
McReight had off-season hip surgery and wasn't named to play in Gladstone.
But the emerging pair are likely to push Salakaia-Loto, Wright and Angus Scott-Young for backrow minutes this season since the departure of former captain Scott Higginbotham.
Wilson said he wouldn't shy away from his next challenge after dominating the second-tier competition last season.
"I'll take the confidence from there, backing myself and hopefully it transfers into Super Rugby - but I guess I'll find out tomorrow," Wilson said.
"(The backrow depth) makes training very difficult, very competitive in a good way.
"But it matters what you do in a game so all of us tomorrow will be ripping in, playing together but playing as hard as you can."
Reds squad: Dane Zander, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Alex Mafi, Sean Farrell, Efi Ma'afu, Taniela Tupou, Dave Feao, Josh Nasser, Angus Blyth, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ryan Smith, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Angus Scott-Young, Liam Wright, Harry Wilson, Seru Uru, Tate McDermott, Moses Sorovi, Isaac Lucas, James O'Connor, Hamish Stewart, Hunter Paisami, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Filipo Daugunu, Jock Campbell, Ilaisa Droasese, Bryce Hegarty, Lawson Creighton.
- AAP
Brad Thorn has appointed young flanker Liam Wright as captain for the season ahead:
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Latest Comments
I’ve seen an improvement in both.
Go to commentsFrance using the 7-1, England using the 6-2, Ireland and Scotland have used it a few times as well and many nations are starting to adopt it. The reality is the game is changing. Administrators have made it faster and that is leading to more significant drop offs in the forwards. You have 2 options. Load your bench with forwards or alter your player conditioning which might mean more intense conditioning for forwards and a drop off in bulk. The game can still be played many ways. Every nation needs to adapt in their own way to suit their strengths. France have followed the Springbok model of tight forwards being preferred because it suits them. They have huge hunks of meat and the bench is as good as the starters so why not go for it? The Springboks have also used hybrids like Kwagga Smith, Schalk Britz, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert and others. England are following that model instead and by putting 3 loosies there who can do damage in defence and make the breakdown a mess in the final quarter. It worked well against Wales but will be interested to see how it goes going forward against better opposition who can threaten their lineout and scrum. All the talk around bench limitations to stop the 7-1 and 6-2 for me is nonsense. Coaches who refuse to innovate want to keep the game the same and make it uniform and sameness is bad for fans. The bench composition adds jeopardy and is a huge debate point for fans who love it. Bench innovations have not made the game worse, they have made it better and more watchable. They challenge coaches and teams and that’s what fans want. What we need now is more coaches to innovate. There is still space for the 5-3 or even a 4-4 if a coach is willing to take it on and play expansive high tempo possession-based rugby with forwards who are lean and mean and backs who are good over the ball. The laws favour that style more than ever before. Ireland are too old to do it now. Every team needs to innovate to best suit their style and players so I hope coaches and pundits stop moaning about forwards and benches and start to find different ways to win.
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