The Wallabies are bracing for another blow as they're poised to lose James O’Connor to the Leicester Tigers, stripping the team of another key player right before the Bledisloe Cup showdown.
O'Connor, who recently rejoined the Wallabies and played in the opening games of the Rugby Championship, is expected to exit the Australian squad following their game against Argentina. This move comes as Joe Schmidt, Wallabies head coach, has reportedly allowed O’Connor to join the Gallagher Premiership club, thus accommodating the return of Ben Donaldson to the fly-half position for the upcoming matches against the All Blacks.
The timing of O'Connor’s departure is especially critical as Will Skelton, another pivotal player, might also miss the Bledisloe Cup due to his obligations with Top 14 club La Rochelle.
"We want to get him here soon"
Leicester Tigers' new head coach Geoff Parling expressed his eagerness to bring O'Connor on board. "We had a conversation two days ago," Parling remarked. "But conversations about these things are always ongoing. I’m hopeful of getting him. We want to get him here soon, but I’m sure Joe would like to keep him as well. I have a really good relationship with Joe. We’ll keep talking."
Parling also highlighted the veteran’s evolution over the years, noting, "He’s also a good pro now; he knows in his younger days he wasn’t necessarily a good pro, but he’s different now. He’s a good character to have around." This seasoned player is seen as a valuable addition to a team looking to rebuild and stabilize after losing a significant amount of experience last season.
The Tigers are set to launch their Premiership campaign with a trip to Bristol Bears, followed by a home game against Harlequins. As the Wallabies face the prospect of tackling their fiercest rivals without two of their seasoned warriors, the team dynamics and strategies are sure to be extensively tested.
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The Wallabies are bracing for another blow as they're poised to lose James O’Connor to the Leicester Tigers, stripping the team of another key player right before the Bledisloe Cup showdown.
O'Connor, who recently rejoined the Wallabies and played in the opening games of the Rugby Championship, is expected to exit the Australian squad following their game against Argentina. This move comes as Joe Schmidt, Wallabies head coach, has reportedly allowed O’Connor to join the Gallagher Premiership club, thus accommodating the return of Ben Donaldson to the fly-half position for the upcoming matches against the All Blacks.
The timing of O'Connor’s departure is especially critical as Will Skelton, another pivotal player, might also miss the Bledisloe Cup due to his obligations with Top 14 club La Rochelle.
"We want to get him here soon"
Leicester Tigers' new head coach Geoff Parling expressed his eagerness to bring O'Connor on board. "We had a conversation two days ago," Parling remarked. "But conversations about these things are always ongoing. I’m hopeful of getting him. We want to get him here soon, but I’m sure Joe would like to keep him as well. I have a really good relationship with Joe. We’ll keep talking."
Parling also highlighted the veteran’s evolution over the years, noting, "He’s also a good pro now; he knows in his younger days he wasn’t necessarily a good pro, but he’s different now. He’s a good character to have around." This seasoned player is seen as a valuable addition to a team looking to rebuild and stabilize after losing a significant amount of experience last season.
The Tigers are set to launch their Premiership campaign with a trip to Bristol Bears, followed by a home game against Harlequins. As the Wallabies face the prospect of tackling their fiercest rivals without two of their seasoned warriors, the team dynamics and strategies are sure to be extensively tested.