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SYDNEY - Teenager James O'Connor is the bolter in the Wallabies' European rugby tour squad as coach Robbie Deans introduced a distinctly New Zealand flavour among his new caps today.
Western Force utility back O'Connor, 18, was among four newcomers to Deans' 34-man squad to face the All Blacks in Hong Kong on November 1, and also play tests against Italy, England, France and Wales.
The others were Reds five-eighth Quade Cooper, born and bred in Waikato; Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu who represented New Zealand under-21; and Zimbabwe-born Force openside flanker David Pocock.
Queensland-raised O'Connor is in the intriguing position of being eligible for all three Tri-Nations sides; the All Blacks through his New Zealand father Warren who played first-class rugby for Auckland, and the Springboks due to his South African mother.
He became the youngest Super 14 debutant, aged 17, when coach John Mitchell summoned him to play the Reds in April.
At 1.80m and 80kg, O'Connor is primarily a centre but he and Cooper could be used to develop the squad's depth in the five-eighths behind Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes.
All of Deans' Tri-Nations squad were retained for the tour, minus forwards Rocky Elsom and Dan Vickerman who have signed European contracts.
Wing Lote Tuqiri (knee) and five-eighth Barnes (shoulder) were both named despite recent battles with injury, while promising five-eighth Kurtley Beale was overlooked due to a lack of game time after some injury problems.
Wallabies
Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (captain), James O'Connor, Brett Sheehan, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachlan Turner.
Forwards: Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh.
- NZPA
