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Reds playmaker James O’Connor to miss at least 3 rounds with pre-season injury
By AAP
New Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss is tossing up blooding a teenage debutant at No.10 for the Super Rugby Pacific opener as he grapples with the loss of an injured James O'Connor.
Kiss said veteran playmaker O'Connor, 33, would miss at least the first three rounds after a pre-season hamstring injury followed a knee complaint late last year.
It reduces the contest to wear the Reds' No.10 against the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday to a three-horse race.
Junior Wallabies graduate Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (19), Tom Lynagh (20) and Lawson Creighton (25) are all in the mix, Kiss said.
"You don't like to lose people like James, do you," Kiss said on Monday.
"He was flying, going extremely well.
"But I've said all along we've got four good options there and all the other options are playing well."
Lynagh and Creighton shared the duties with O'Connor last year, who was eventually shifted to the No.12 and performed strongly.
"Harry, Tom, Lawso, have a good disposition, don't get flustered too easily and all play slightly different," Kiss said of his options.
"Harry is robust at the line, a triple threat for sure ... a lot to learn but nothing seems to faze him.
"I'd have no reservations at all if that was to be the case; the only way you get experience is to play and I like them to play as much as possible."
Lock Angus Blyth (back) is also in doubt while flanker Connor Anderson, prop Massimo De Lutiis and hooker Max Craig are also on the injured list.
A rugby league winger who played for Queensland before moving into coaching in rugby, Kiss said the state rivalry "went to the bone".
"It's bloody tough and it's exciting, it's rivalry at its best and is an occasion I live for," he said.
"I know what they're (Waratahs) are capable of and what it means to them, so we won't take them for granted."
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Latest Comments
33, unlikely?
It’s actually an interesting question, how does his RL career impact you perception of his ‘rugby age’?
I’d imagine he’s fresher than a 26 yo rugby player, he’s fitting and done more k’s, but had less impacts (unsure of his injuries).
Anyway, your conclusion doesn’t really hit the mark. What you’ve not asked yourself is would he be better at 33, with 6 years under his belt, than 28/9, and only 2 years experience. If he really is considering it a major goal of course, he may just want an Olympic medal and leave etc.
Still, in relation to your topic, what I suspected would be his thinking is the ever increasing value in playing in Japan. Perhaps he’d try and give this first WC a go, trying to make it in the All Blacks, obviously playing Super Rugby, then he’d take a much bigger contract in Japan? Learn how to run around people with better accuracy and consistency (rofl), and then return to NZ as an improved player to Australia 2027, with the hope to fine tune further and make the most of his marketability in the bonanza that America 2031 is going to leave behind. 33 is still prime earning age and who knows what the MLR market is going to be like them, if teams have started to have major backers etc.
It’s all about the money afterall (yes, I wasn’t referring to his ability re USA31’)!
Go to commentsNo, just an overly zealous fan who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
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