Melbourne’s Test five-eighth James O’Connor has recovered from injury to set up a mouth-watering Super Rugby clash with Queensland’s Wallaby wannabe Quade Cooper.
O’Connor was put through a probing full-contact training session at the Rebels headquarters on Wednesday and barring any setback will start at No.10 on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.
The 22-year-old hasn’t played since suffering a chest injury three rounds ago, missing the Rebels’ rousing wins over the Stormers and NSW Waratahs.
He desperately needs more game time at five-eighth before next month’s Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
O’Connor was preferred ahead of Cooper by Australia coach Robbie Deans, who cited his superior defence among other reasons for the selection.
That summation led to Reds coach Ewen McKenzie defending Cooper and firing back that O’Connor was “speed-humped” by Blues centre Rene Ranger in the match he was injured in.
McKenzie on Wednesday said he was “not too fussed” if O’Connor turned out for the Rebels.
“They’ve been doing well in his absence so I’ll be interested to see what they come up with as a combination. We’ll play whoever, we don’t mind,” he said.
“We’ve got some strong thoughts about how we’ll need to play the game … we’ll just concentrate on what we’re doing.”
The battle between the five-eighths is just one of the highly anticipated duels with former Red Scott Higginbotham leading the Rebels.
With Deans only naming one halfback in his 25-man squad in the Reds’ Will Genia, the stakes are high for Melbourne’s Nick Phipps.
Coach Damien Hill believed Phipps and the Brumbies’ Nic White were ahead of French-based halfback Luke Burgess in the race for the remaining position up for grabs when six more players are added to the Wallabies squad early next month.
“If he wins the battle against Genia then it should put him in good contention for the spot that’s remaining,” Hill said.
“My understanding is that it’s a competition between Nic White and Nick Phipps and Robbie’s using the next couple of games to get a better read on both of them.”
Hill said it was also an opportunity for young Rebels lock Hugh Pyle to prove himself against Queensland’s Test duo James Horwill and Rob Simmons and be named a bolter for the squad.
Melbourne winger Cooper Vuna has overcome a calf problem but hasn’t been able to force himself back into their winning squad.
“Lachie’s (Mitchell) been doing well and so has Tommy English and Kimami (Sitauti) has added off the bench.
“We want to see a good week’s training and I will talk to him then.”
Reds fan
Guest
It will make recruiting a 15 or understudy 10 quite a challenge too.
winston
Roar Rookie
Yeah Barnes is the future?
Justin2
Guest
I think it's just poor selection. Link is getting it wrong.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
Awesome, just read we aren't going to be seeing Waterhouse's face so often on TV. 'He's listened'.
Chivas
Guest
He can't Quade is playing there :-)
Malo
Guest
Cant wait hope they both play crap and either Tomua, CL or Barnes get the gig. No three amigos policy. Yesterdays heroes time to look to the future.
Adsa
Guest
Nice angle RF I had not thought from that corner.
winston
Roar Rookie
I'm picking the Reds to dominate this game. If QC has a blinder against the brand (which he should), I can't see Dean's stance on him changing.
Reds fan
Guest
As an extension of this... The Reds are losing two 15s at season end. It is now becoming apparent that the use of Cooper at 15 in defence is making the Reds a no go zone for 15s who want to play a proper 15s game. It's also driving away understudy 10s who don't want to be part time 15s and Coopers stand in tackler. It is leading to an imbalance in the squad. The remaining candidates for 15 are Lucas who is normally a 9/10, frisby a 9 and Harris a 10/12. And they wonder why tries are hard to come by....
stillmatic1
Guest
cooper got a lot of credit on here when his team won games too, red. swings and roundabouts. cant applaud him as the messiah when they win but fail to deride him when they lose. hyperbole goes both ways. imo cooper had a poor start to that game but didnt do too much wrong for the rest. his errors are his own, but if others dont play well your pushing the proverbial uphill.
Justin2
Guest
If I were link Id be moving Morahan to 15 whenever possible during the game.
Justin2
Guest
I think the Rebels back 5 are better at present than the Reds, put it that way. They are a bit more dynamic overall and the Reds will have to play well if this form line continues.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
This is another danger game for the Reds. If its a tough arm wrestle, you would have to think that the travel of the last few weeks will have an effect on them.
formeropenside
Guest
Lance and CFS are injured. I think resting Gill is more to get some game time under Beau's belt as a precaution for the finals (although he'll be twiddling his thumbs in Premier Rugby during the June break).
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Past it I think. To be fair he is 62.
DJW
Guest
I missed the Reds game last weekend, how was Samo? Is he passed his used by date?
jutsie
Guest
good team (other than gill being rested but the bloke needs a break), nice to see benny lucas get a start again. is lance injured or just dropped?
formeropenside
Guest
Reds team is up: 1. Greg Holmes 2. James Hanson 3. James Slipper 4. Rob Simmons 5. James Horwill (c) 6. Eddie Quirk 7. Beau Robinson 8. Jake Schatz 9. Will Genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. Luke Morahan 12. Anthony Faingaa 13. Ben Tapuai 14. Rod Davies 15. Ben Lucas 16. Saia Faingaa 17. Ben Daley 18. Ed O'Donoghue 19. Radike Samo 20. Liam Gill 21. Nick Frisby 22. Mike Harris Gill being rested and Beau Robbo being given a run. Lucas at 15, Taps at 13 (although you'd have to think he and AF will move around a bit).
formeropenside
Guest
When did Cooper blow it, exactly?
jutsie
Guest
temba im not saying the reds pack are soft just that the rebels pack are capable of getting the upper hand in the forward battle by playing a physical game. The reds pack like to play a quick breakdown and game and commit as few guys as possible. Teams that muscle up and make their pack accountable tend to do well.