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Reds dealt major injury blow as James O'Connor set for lengthy sideline spell
By AAP
Injury to James O'Connor has put a spanner in the Queensland Reds' plans to take down their New Zealand rivals and threatens to derail the playmaker's home test campaign for a second-straight year.
Last season's domestic champions will begin the trans-Tasman component of Super Rugby Pacific action at Melbourne's Super Round against the Wellington-based Hurricanes (4-4) on Saturday.
But the Reds (7-1) will do it without their in-form five-eighth, who could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
O'Connor's lateral collateral ligament was injured while kicking late in the last-round defeat of the Rebels when his straightened leg was collected by an attempted charge down.
Fullback Jordan Petaia will also miss Saturday's clash with a low-grade hamstring strain suffered in a slip on the AAMI Park turf, but is expected to be fit to face the Chiefs next weekend.
O'Connor doesn't require surgery but could still be out for the season, the four-to-six week recovery placing him in doubt for the final regular-season game against the Crusaders on May 27.
The Wallabies then face England in a three-test series in July, O'Connor keen to feature after a groin issue ensured he was a spectator for Australia's home tests last year.
His Rugby Championship absence paved the way for Quade Cooper's memorable Wallabies return from Japanese rugby.
More immediate though is the impact O'Connor's absence will have on an improved Reds side determined to improve a terrible record against New Zealand rivals.
The Reds have won just two of their last 22 games against New Zealand teams while the Hurricanes have won 15 of their last 17 games against the Reds and 19 of their last 21 against Australian opponents.
Jock Campbell (hand) returns from injury to replace Petaia while Lawson Creighton will wear the No.10 and Suliasi Vunivalu will play his second game of the season on the wing.
"We're going to need to bring more than fight," Reds halfback Tate McDermott said of his side, who have lost just once despite playing inconsistently this year.
"James was in some really good form there; he'll be a big loss from the experience side of it.
"But it's a shot for Lawson and I'm proud of how far he's come."
O'Connor's injury also opens the door for Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio to make his case for test minutes, the No.10 set to return from an ankle injury to face the Dunedin-based Highlanders on Sunday.
Nic White will captain the side with Allan Alaalatoa (neck) a "week to week" proposition, according to coach Dan McKellar, while Tom Banks (facial injury) should be available next week.
Will Harrison will play fullback for the NSW Waratahs against the Hamilton-based Chiefs on Friday, shifting Alex Newsome to the wing and Dylan Pietsch to the bench.
Ben Donaldson (calf) is also back from injury, named on the bench behind No.10 Tane Edmed.
"He's (Donaldson) now one hundred per cent and ready to go, and we're hoping his presence will push both himself and Tane to a higher level and it will be interesting to see how that selection battle plays out over the next few weeks," coach Darren Coleman said.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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