Comments on: O’Connor may be forced to take on five-eighth role

By: AndyS

AndyS — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:40:14 +0000

Hmmm, interesting though that the article omitted Mitchell’s other quote (reported by Growden) that, “Asked if O’Connor would play at No.10, Mitchell replied: ”Only in terms of development, as we are looking at James primarily at 15 and 12.””

He may wind up at 10 one day, but that day should be some time in the future and the deep end is not where he needs to be yet.

By: Jameswm

Jameswm — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:58:59 +0000

Bart is at least a solid and reliable option for 10 – a good team player. What’s his punting like? We’ll find out this weekend I guess.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:18:13 +0000

I think JOC is a natural 12. Powerful, incisive runner with excellent skills across the board. He will have to tackle at 10 or 12 so really it doesnt matter in that regard. He may get a few more at 12 but everyone is expected to do the job in defence these days. At 10 he will have less space to run and less opportunity also with flankers o him quickly. I cant wait to see him pay this year but at 10 he has so many more things to think about which can affect his natural instinct to take the game on. His kicking game is good for a 12 but not up to standard yet for a 10 either. He had a blinder at 12 last year before Deans stuffed him by playing him out of position at 15 in Tests. A terrible decision IMO.

Stay at 12 and run Bart at 10 is my view for the moment.

By: Jameswm

Jameswm — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:00:22 +0000

Nah – I reckon 12 is his spot, but he needs a 5/8 who kicks well and controls the game well (to take the pressure of JOC to do that), and is a strong tackler.

In fact Halangahu fits all that (as does Barnes).

By: Frank O'Keeffe

Frank O'Keeffe — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:52:41 +0000

Not a bad idea if you ask me.

O’Connor has said he’s more comfortable at inside centre because he sees the ball more and can get into the game better. In hindsight Deans probably made a mistake blooding a 19-year-old into the Test arena in a position he (to my knowledge) hadn’t played before. But the problem with inside centre is O’Connor’s going to have to be tackling guys much larger than he is, and that’ll take it’s toll. And in the modern game backs are expected to win ruck ball as well (eg Umaga and Horan). Whereas at five-eighth O’Connor would have less tackling to do (although teams may focus on the 10-12 chanell), will get the ball and have a chance to run. He has all the ball skills of a five-eighth. I wonder how he’d read the play?

The only thing is O’Connor is a tremendously elusive runner and five-eighth is such a restricted position these days. The Wallabies don’t need another playmaker who tries to have a go on his own too much (eg Giteau). But five-eighth may be the spot for him.