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James O'Connor flown to South Africa

James O'Connor. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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“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

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J
JW 47 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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