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From Darren Walton in Wellington, New Zealand AAP September 20, 2011 5:00PM
Hamstrung ... James O'Connor will miss clash with USA. Source: Rob Griffith / AAP
Goalkicking winger James O'Connor has been ruled out of Friday night's Rugby World Cup clash with the USA as Australia's injury toll continues to rise at the tournament.
O'Connor has a strained hamstring, but an MRI scan on Tuesday afternoon ruled out any serious damage and it is hoped he will be available for the Wallabies' final Rugby World Cup 2011 group game against Russia in Nelson on Saturday week.
O'Connor is thought to have suffered the strain when he mowed down runaway winger Tommy Bowe in the closing stages of Australia's 15-6 loss to Ireland in Auckland last Saturday night.
It is another bitter blow for the 21-year-old, who only returned to the starting line-up against Ireland after being suspended from Australia's Tri Nations final triumph over New Zealand last month for disciplinary reasons.
O'Connor slept through Australia's World Cup squad announcement and official team photo shoot in Sydney, but was recalled to the run-on side following his game-turning 32-minute cameo appearance off the bench in Australia's opening win over Italy.
His unavailability this week almost certainly means Drew Mitchell, Australia's top tryscorer at the 2007 World Cup in France, will make his first Test start of the year.
Mitchell only proved his fitness for the World Cup the day before the squad announcement after dislocating his ankle and breaking a bone in his leg playing a Super Rugby match for NSW against Queensland in April.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/ru...-1226142011099
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Originally Posted by travelling_gerry
's season if i remember rightly?
