Rugby: Unwanted O'Connor to warm bench

James O'Connor of the Rebels. Photo / Getty Images

James O'Connor's week just keeps getting worse.

Less than 24 hours after he played at first five-eighths in Australia's 41-16 loss to the Lions in last Saturday's third and deciding test, he was told by the Melbourne Rebels that they don't want him back next season.

That left the 23-year-old O'Connor with just one Super Rugby match remaining for the Rebels against the Highlanders tomorrow. And now he has been dropped to the bench.

Complicating O'Connor's on-field injuries and inconsistent form has been several disciplinary breaches including being photographed at a fast-food outlet at 4am three days before the second test, and reports that he missed Australia's team bus to training the day before the deciding match against the Lions.

Meanwhile, breakthrough Wallabies flyer Jesse Mogg is not concerned he will fall out of favour and stay a one-game Wallaby after Ewen McKenzie took over from Robbie Deans.

The performance of the Brumbies fullback after Israel Folau's hamstring injury was a silver lining for the Wallabies during their thrashing by the Lions. Mogg was electric from his first touch of the ball and the reserve Wallabies back also provided his side with a left foot kicking option.

Mogg admitted he was not sure where the switch to former Reds director of coaching McKenzie would leave him in the pecking order.

"As you can see sometimes form is not the best thing to get you in the team," he said.

"I can't comment, I guess, on what Ewen's going to do. Best thing I can do as a player is play for our club."

Mogg said the matter had not concerned him too much, with the Brumbies focusing on their final round Super Rugby fixture against the Western Force in Perth this Saturday.

- AAP