Reds coach Les Kiss full of respect for ex-Queensland star James O’Connor despite defection to Crusaders

The Reds are fully aware of the damage former Queensland star James O’Connor can cause them on Sunday in Christchurch.

Reds coach Les Kiss holds no “grudges” against James O’Connor for leaving Queensland to join the Crusaders, saying it was an “exciting proposition” for his team to be facing the experienced flyhalf on Sunday.

O’Connor, 34, made the shock decision in October last year to join the Crusaders for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season after parting ways with the Reds a month earlier despite being offered a new deal.

Kiss said he respected O’Connor’s decision and was wary the impact that the playmaker, who has 64 Wallabies caps to his name, could have this weekend in Christchurch.

Former Reds star James O'Connor will face his old team on Sunday. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“It’s an exciting proposition for us,” the Reds mentor said from New Zealand on Wednesday.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for ‘Rabs’ (O’Connor). He’s exceptional player with quality hands.

“He had an option to stay (with the Reds), and it was nearly there. This thing (with the Crusaders) popped up, and it excited him.
“There are no grudges here. He’s done his bit here. He’s exploring something at the back-end of his career.
“The experience will be wonderful for him. If he has ambitions to go into coaching later, the more experiences you have in different environments can only help you in that respect, so there are no regrets at all.

“If you live with regrets for too long in this game, you’re going to get in a cycle of doom and it’s hard to get out of those spaces if you do that. Footy’s footy and things don’t always go in a straight line.

“He knows a fair bit about us without a doubt, so we’ve got to be able to navigate that reality and be able to make sure that we stay on track and put our game plan to the fore.”

The Reds are hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the season to a third successive match but will have to do so without injured pair Josh Flook and Seru Uru.

Reds centre Josh Flook is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images

Filipo Daugunu will shift from the wing to the centres to fill the void left by Flook, who has a hamstring injury, while co-captain Liam Wright moves from the bench to a starting flanker’s role to replace Uru, who has a “minor issue”, according to Kiss.

Wright made a successful return from a long-term shoulder injury as a second-half replacement in Queensland’s 28-24 win over Western Force in Perth last Saturday.

“He (Wright) pulled up very well. He was really happy with how it went, and he’ll come into the starting side,” Kiss said.

Former Crusaders winger Heremaia Murray will start at fullback for the Reds for a second successive week as Jock Campbell remains sidelined with a wrist injury.

“He’s a very smart footballer,” Kiss said of New Zealander Murray.
“His left foot is something that’s good for us, (and he is a) very good communicator. He has slotted in nicely and has the confidence of everyone here.”

Elsewhere in the backs, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will start at flyhalf, with Tom Lynagh dropping back to the bench.

Reds: Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Dre Pakeho, Filipo Daugunu, Lachie Anderson, Heremaia Murray. Bench: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Angus Blyth, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Frankie Goldsbrough.

Originally published as Reds coach Les Kiss full of respect for ex-Queensland star James O’Connor despite defection to Crusaders