An injury suffered by Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor could put his Test season under threat, which would open the door for Quade Cooper to once again face the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.

O’Connor suffered a lateral collateral ligament injury while playing for the Reds in the Super Rugby match against the Rebels.

Fortunately for the 31-year-old, the injury will not require surgery, but is still expected to keep him out for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

The four-to-six week recovery means that O’Connor would be in doubt for the final game of the Super Rugby season against the Crusaders on 27 May.

The Wallabies will face England in a three-Test series on home soil in July and O’Connor would be eager to play in those games after missing last year’s Tests due to a groin injury.

His absence in the Rugby Championship paved the way for Quade Cooper to earn a memorable recall. The 34-year-old marked his return to Test rugby by kicking the winning penalty against the Springboks on the Gold Coast in September.

Should O’Connor not recover in time, it could prompt the Wallabies to once again call on Cooper when they face the Springboks in this year’s Rugby Championship.

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