Rejoining the Western Force is less about replacing Matt Henjak and all about earning a Wallabies jersey for scrum-half Chris O’Young.
O’Young, summoned from Scotland to South Africa on Friday, said from Durban yesterday the Force had sounded out his agent last month about possibly cutting short his contract with the Glasgow Warriors when Force reserve Adam Clarke hurt his neck.
However, O’Young left the Force in the middle of last year precisely because he’d had enough of sitting on the bench watching Henjak get most of the game time — and he wasn’t about to resume the same role.
“Things sped up a lot last week because of the problems the Force had,” said O’Young, trying to be as diplomatic as possible about Henjak’s dismissal for breaking the jaw of teammate Haig Sare in a pub brawl.
“Suddenly there was an opportunity to come back and play Super 14 rugby. With the new laws, it’s the style of game I like to play.”
O’Young was also mindful of the opportunity to catch the eye of new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans during a Super 14 season in which a new breed of half-back will be vying for attention.
With George Gregan and Henjak out of the picture, and Sam Cordingley frequently hurt, O’Young wants to join the likes of Josh Holmes, Luke Burgess, Brett Sheehan and Josh Valentine on the list of those contending to break into the national squad.
“My interest is to play for the Wallabies,” he stated. “There’s no reason to play if you don’t aim that high.”
Warriors coach Sean Lineen agreed a small window existed for O’Young to make his mark in Australia and assured the scrum-half he would not block his release, even though more than a year remained on his contract.
“He was more than happy for me to have a crack, especially because the new rules should suit me,” said O’Young, who started for the Scottish team in the Heineken Cup but lately was benched or rested because of injury.
O’Young has spent the past few days learning the new plays Force coach John Mitchell has devised for this year.
“It’s fairly similar but there are a few significant changes,” O’Young said. “I keep pen and paper with me.”
O’Young accepts he might be on the bench at the start of Friday’s match against the Lions at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
Rookie James Stannard performed admirably when thrust into the starter’s job against the Cheetahs last weekend and could continue the role to give O’Young the chance to observe and assess during the first half.
Meanwhile, Henjak is unlikely to appeal against his dismissal from the Super 14 club.
He was sacked last week because of repeated disciplinary issues and a source close to the player said he had accepted his punishment and was looking to continue his rugby career outside Australia.
Agent Greg Keenan is talking to several European clubs needing to improve their half-back depth.
DAVE HUGHES