Rugby Confidential: James O’Connor eyes Super Rugby return; David Pocock injury concern

David Pocock’s continuing injury concerns, James O’Connor eyes a Super Rugby return and Tongan Thor’s big-money deal. All this and more in Rugby Confidential.

David Pocock’s mystery calf injury is taking much longer to heal than hoped. Picture: Getty Images

• Lealiifano desperate to push past milestone
• Experts name their Wallabies World Cup teams

David Pocock is still not able to run, with his troublesome calf threatening to keep him out of the Wallabies’ opening match of the year against South Africa in three weeks.

Pocock missed the entire Super Rugby season dealing with the calf strain suffered in a January Wallabies training camp.

It is an injury that has baffled Pocock, coaches and strength and conditioning staff.

Put simply, the Wallabies can’t win the World Cup without Pocock at full fitness, and the fact he is still not running is a major concern with South Africa to play in Johannesburg on July 20.

David Pocock’s mystery calf injury is taking much longer to heal than hoped. Picture: Getty Images

It’s understood Pocock is firming to start in the No. 7 Wallabies jersey ahead of Michael Hooper when he returns to full fitness, but just when that will be remains a mystery.

Lock Adam Coleman is also set to be ruled out the Springboks clash with a shoulder injury.

A surprise face in the Wallabies camp this week in Sydney was hooker Tolu Latu, who was fined and suspended after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

You’ll recall Latu was booted out of the previous Wallabies camp when news broke of his arrest, but coach Michael Cheika has forgiven him.

However, with the Brumbies not in the mix due to the finals, it remains a long shot that Latu will be among the three hookers in the World Cup squad, with Folau Fainga’a, Alex Mafi, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Jordan Uelese in contention.

Halfback Nic White was also in the camp after signing a deal with Rugby Australia, though whether he joins Melbourne or the Brumbies is yet to be decided.

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JAMES O’Connor is in talks to sign with Queensland next year as a means to qualify for the Wallabies’ World Cup squad, but it can also be revealed that he is contention for the 2020 Olympics.

James O’Connor is in talks to sign with Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

O’Connor is keen to chance his hand at Sevens, and the prospect of him being available for Australia’s side for the Tokyo Games is being weighed up.

If O’Connor is to return, it would cap a remarkable turn of events, given the ugly nature in which he departed from the Reds in 2015.

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THE Tongan Thor, Taniela Tupou, will become the highest paid prop in Australian rugby history after agreeing to a new four-year deal worth $3.5 million.

Tupou has told teammates in Wallabies camp that he is staying put and the deal ensures he will be available for the national side through to the 2023 World Cup in France.

Reds and Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has agreed to a big-money deal. Picture: Getty Images

After emerging as a schoolboy sensation in Auckland, Tupou was poached by Australian rugby in 2014, and he has lived up to his potential by starring in Super Rugby for Queensland and playing 10 Tests for far for the Wallabies.

The 23-year-old, who weighs 135kg, should be the cornerstone of the Australian scrum for the next World Cup cycle and could play a crucial role in the Wallabies’ campaign in Japan later this year.

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KARMICHAEL Hunt is set to be a casualty at the Waratahs despite a stellar season.

With news that NSW is about to sign NRL prop Tepai Moeroa as a centre, on a deal believed to be worth $400,000 a season, there is little leftover money for Hunt.

Kurtley Beale is expected to re-sign with NSW, who are also eyeing Queensland playmaker Matt McGahan.

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VETERAN hooker Damien Fitzpatrick is understood to be close to re-signing with the Waratahs, adding some vital experience to a squad that will be entering a tricky rebuilding phase next year.

The 30-year-old played in all of NSW’s 16 Super Rugby matches this season and helped bring some needed stability to the pack, with the Waratahs winning 100 per cent of scrums on their own feed and 90 per cent of lineouts on their own throws this season, according to Fox Sports Stats.

Hooker Damien Fitzpatrick is understood to be close to re-signing with the Waratahs. Picture: Getty Images

Racking up over 1000 minutes on the field while his main rival for the starting spot Tolu Latu was suspended for half the season, Fitzpatrick also made a whopping 190 tackles, the third highest total by any player in the competition.

Plagued by knee injuries in the early part of his career, Fitzpatrick has been a model of consistency since rejoining NSW in 2017 and is highly regarded by fellow players, being named president of the Rugby Union Players’ Association.