James O’Connor reportedly keen to rejoin Western Force

JAMES O’ Connor’s on-again, off-again courtship has ­resumed with the Western Force, but the club has ­commitment issues with the dazzling superstar.

Coule James O’Connor rejoin the Western Force? Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

JAMES O’ Connor’s on-again, off-again courtship has ­resumed with the Western Force, but the club has ­commitment issues with the dazzling superstar who was once the darling of Perth rugby.

How dearly would the Force loved to have the likes of O’Connor and former skipper David Pocock in their squad in Sydney this afternoon, where it kicks off its Super Rugby campaign facing a dozen ace Wallabies, including megastar Israel Folau, in the Waratahs’ line-up?

It has been reliably learnt that O’Connor, now ­plying his trade with top French club Toulon, is keen on a move back to Perth next season as he wants to play in the 2015 World Cup for Australia.

However, it is also believed O’Connor and the Force are deadlocked on terms and conditions, with the 23-year-old said to want a one-year contract while the Force seek more security and commitment from a two-year deal.

O’Connor’s return to Australia merely to use the Force as a springboard to playing in the World Cup — before ­potentially returning back to the lucrative fields of French rugby — holds little appeal to the Perth club.

Unconfirmed reports, however, have also suggested that O’Connor has stipulated his own conditions and will only rejoin the Force on condition that a certain senior rugby ­official is no longer involved with the team.

The Force has never won its opening game of the season in nine years and will start today’s game as overwhelming underdogs against a Tahs’ side tipped among the favourites to lift the trophy.

Across the park, the Perth club faces respected Wallabies but it is the figure of former League cum AFL star Folau who casts the biggest shadow.

The Wallaby fullback is expected to be deployed in the flyhalf cum inside centre channels in a tactic that will stretch the Force’s defence to its limits.

Force coach Michael Foley has refused to clarify his starting line-up, bracketing seven players in the run-on XV and refusing to reveal who will be on the Force bench. Wallaby Hugh McMeniman will play in the second row, where South African import Wilhelm Steenkamp is also expected to make his debut for the Force.

Wallaby Luke Morahan will also be under the spotlight as he plays his first Super Rugby game for the Force, along with flyhalf Zack Holmes.