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Star playmaker James O’Connor says he is open to enjoying fullback throughout subsequent month’s Take a look at collection towards England amid sizzling competitors to put on the No.10 jersey.
The Wallabies went into camp on Thursday in Queensland to begin preparations for the three-Take a look at marketing campaign, which will get underway in Perth on July 2.
O’Connor is vying with Quade Cooper, who has returned from Japan, and younger gun Noah Lolesio to begin at five-eighth with the function shifting between the trio attributable to damage and type final 12 months.
“It is excessive competitors … every of us play in our personal distinctive approach and all of us have totally different strengths and weaknesses,” O’Connor stated on Thursday.
“It is going to be a great battle so we’ll see what occurs in these subsequent few weeks in coaching camp and see the place the playing cards lie.”
The 31-year-old Queenslander hasn’t performed fullback at Take a look at stage since 2011 however stated he’d make the swap if Wallabies coach Dave Rennie needed him there.
Brumbies ace Tom Banks is the seemingly first-choice fullback though has failed to completely nail down the Take a look at function.
“If Dave (Rennie) needed me to play 15, I would put my hand up for certain,” O’Connor stated.
“We spoke slightly about it final 12 months, nothing this 12 months.
“This 12 months has simply been about enjoying 10 and bettering my recreation there.”
O’Connor has been sidelined since late Might when he suffered a hamstring damage however declared himself a certainty for the much-anticipated collection.
“I am totally match,” O’Connor stated.
“I used to be a smidgen off having the ability to play in that quarter-final towards the Crusaders.
“It was irritating to overlook the final couple (of video games) however I am again and match and able to go.
“I have been hitting all of the benchmarks and it is time to put it on the market on the sector.”
Wherever he traces up, he is decided to ship a greater displaying than on the Wallabies’ UK spring tour the place he began at five-eighth in Australia’s losses to Scotland, Wales and England.
“It wasn’t my finest tour – I simply discovered it slightly bit troublesome to get into the sport,” O’Connor stated.
“Whether or not that was simply the way in which we have been enjoying as a gaggle, (and) additionally, simply myself, I used to be most likely a step too deep.
“I used to be most likely getting ready for situations that did not really come because it was really fairly fast over there and we have been pondering it was going to be a bit extra wet-weather footy.
“Main into Take a look at matches, it’s a step up, so that you need to be ready and bodily so you’ll be able to put your stamp on the sport.
“I positively really feel like I am in that place now.”
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