O’Connor set for Wallabies after six years out
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has all but confirmed James O’Connor will make his international return during the Rugby Championship, ending a six-year absence from the national team.
O’Connor signed with Rugby Australia and the Reds last week after jetting to South Africa to join the Wallabies and could cap an astounding return to the fold as soon as Saturday, when the Wallabies take on Argentina at Suncorp Stadium.
The 29-year-old had his contract torn up by the Australian Rugby Union in 2013 after multiple off-field breaches and seemed destined never to wear the gold jersey again.
But Cheika said the utility would not be with the team if he was not going to be given a chance to play and his playmaking skills are a valuable commodity for a side whose No 10 came under intense pressure in their opening test loss to South Africa last week, reports rugby.com.au.
“He’s been with us and he’s training really well — he’s reintegrated really well, and he wouldn’t be with us if we didn’t think we wanted to give him a chance at some stage,” Cheika said of O’Connor.
“I suppose it’s a question of when we decide to do that — whether it’s this week or in the coming weeks.”
The Wallabies opted for a single playmaker in five-eighths Bernard Foley in their opening test against the Springboks, with Samu Kerevi playing secondfive and continuing the dominant form he showed this Super Rugby season. Cheika said that may continue, with selectors this week trying to find a balance between maintaining combinations and giving squad members a chance to show their worth ahead of the World Cup.
“We want to be ready for a bit of horses for courses,” Cheika said.
“We’ve got to know what our team looks like going into the World Cup and maybe setting that up a little bit earlier, but we’ve also got to be able to mix and match depending on conditions, opposition, etc.”
O’Connor can play multiple positions in the backline but could be an option at 12 as a second ballplayer, with Kerevi shuffled to centre.
“He can play multiple positions, so that gives him a plus without a doubt around where he can play in any side — whether it’s as a finisher or in the starting team and then in the squad as a whole,” Cheika said.