Leicester-bound Wallaby James O’Connor hopes to be back for All Blacks tests

MELBOURNE – Fly-half James O’Connor flew out of Australia on Sept 15 with no guarantee he will play another Test for the Wallabies, but let everyone know he wants to be back for the final Rugby Championship clashes against New Zealand.

O’Connor signed for Leicester Tigers in June and had planned to join up with them after the British and Irish Lions Series, but the 35-year-old was retained in Joe Schmidt’s Rugby Championship squad due to the Wallabies’ injury list.

However, with Ben Donaldson returning from a thigh injury and fellow fly-half Tom Lynagh expected to be available for the All Blacks Tests after a hamstring strain, O’Connor was released from the Wallabies squad to head to England.

The 68-Test playmaker posted a picture of himself with his dog before his flight, with the caption: “This is not goodbye... It’s see you soon... Hopefully... Bledisloe.”

The final two Tests of the Rugby Championship against New Zealand at Eden Park on Sept 27 and in Perth the following week double as the Bledisloe Cup, the annual Series contested between Australia and the All Blacks.

Coming back to Test rugby this season after a three-year hiatus, O’Connor has been among the Wallabies’ top performers in the Rugby Championship.

He played a big part in their drought-breaking win over world champions South Africa at Ellis Park in August and helped inspire their comeback win over Argentina in Townsville with a busy cameo off the bench in the second half.

He was the driving force again in the Wallabies’ late rally against the Pumas in Sydney on Sept 13 replacing Tane Edmed, who struggled in his first Test as starting fly-half.

With O’Connor in good form, and Edmed, Lynagh and Donaldson boasting fewer than 30 Tests between them, home fans and rugby media have bemoaned O’Connor’s release with the Wallabies eyeing a rare chance for silverware.

Australia lead the Rugby Championship on 11 points, one ahead of South Africa and New Zealand, who suffered a record loss to the Springboks in Wellington on Sept 13. Los Pumas are on nine points.

Schmidt praised O’Connor’s performance after the 28-26 loss to Argentina but was non-committal when asked whether he would include him in his squad for the All Blacks’ Tests.

“I will definitely be having a chat to James this evening or tomorrow morning because we have to make a decision pretty much straight away,” Schmidt told reporters.

Rugby Australia declined to comment on whether any decision had been made.

In other news, French forwards Axelle Berthoumieu, accused of biting, and Manae Feleu are set to miss the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final after a disciplinary panel on Sept 15 recommended bans for both.

The offences occurred in an 18-13 French quarter-final win over Ireland in Exeter on Sept 14.

Lock Feleu was given a yellow card for a high tackle and faces a three-match ban. Flanker Berthoumieu could be out for 12 matches after being found guilty of sinking her teeth into Irish star Aoife Wafer.

If the bans are confirmed, the World Cup will be over for both women as France have a maximum of two matches left, starting against England on Sept 20 in Bristol. REUTERS