Joe Schmidt is set for player release talks with Leicester Tigers about James O’Connor, with the Wallabies absorbing the ramifications of Tom Lynagh’s latest concussion.
The 22-year-old was sidelined five weeks ago following a cited head shot from Dan Sheehan of the British and Irish Lions, and he made his return to play in Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Townsville.
Lynagh was replaced in the thrilling 28-24, clock in the red win due to a tight hamstring, but he was then asked to undergo a head injury assessment which he failed.
That outcome has ruled him out of next weekend’s Round Four rematch with the Pumas in Sydney, and has also made him a doubt for the tournament-ending games with the All Blacks in Auckland and Perth on September 27 and October 4.
“By negotiation…”
Lynagh’s No.10 Wallabies jersey went to veteran O’Connor on last month’s two-match trip to South Africa, and the 35-year-old also came off the bench in Townsville to help secure the last-gasp victory over Argentina.
Having finished up at the Crusaders, O’Connor is due to fly to England after next weekend’s Round Four match to begin his club contract with Leicester.
Tigers’ new Premiership season is set to begin with a September 28 trip to Bristol, but Schmidt has admitted he will now be contacting Geoff Parling – Leicester’s new head coach, who was Schmidt’s Wallabies assistant until the end of the Lions series – about the possibility of keeping O’Connor with him until the end of the Championship.
“That will be, can I call it, ‘by negotiation’,” quipped Schmidt as the dust settled on the Round Three win that has Australia in second place on the table, one point behind leaders New Zealand.
“He [O’Connor] is massively supportive, but has a responsibility to Leicester. So I know he is available next week and beyond that it will be conversations with Geoff.”
Dwelling on the latest injury setback for Lynagh, Schmidt insisted there would be no corners cut with the Test rookie’s health. “We gave him an extended rest after the third Test against the Lions, and he felt good after that game and feels good now.
“That is a good first sign, but we know he can’t play next week and it puts him in a bit of doubt for the Bledisloe. We won’t be risking him in any way, shape or form and getting him the best medical advice.”
Schmidt added that Lynagh’s tackle technique wasn’t an issue in his series of concussions, which also included a couple of knocks sustained with the Queensland Reds.
“His tackle technique is usually pretty sound,” explained the Wallabies head coach. “We brought him off for a tight hamstring, and it was after that they decided to do a HIA. Tom didn’t flag it. I’m guessing it was from a mouthguard alert.”