O’Connor facing Bledisloe Cup chop
By Darren Walton, 20 Aug 2011 Darren Walton is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, James OConnor, Rugby Union, wallabies
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Wallabies wonder boy James O’Connor faces the chop from next Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup showdown with the All Blacks in Brisbane after apparently sleeping in and missing a vital team meeting in Sydney.
The Australian Rugby Union has asked the 21-year-old match-winner to explain his absence from Thursday’s Rugby World Cup squad announcement at Sydney airport.
Officials at the time of the announcement merely said O’Connor “was unable to be here” when Australia’s 30-man squad was revealed, but it is understood the classy utility back is facing a suspension that could threaten his place in the Wallabies’ first-choice World Cup line-up.
“James informed us on the morning of the squad announcement that he was unable to be present,” an ARU spokesman told AAP on Friday night.
“We have requested James provide a full explanation for his non-attendance.
“Until such time as we have received that explantation, we are not in a position to comment further.”
O’Connor was one of the heroes of the Wallabies’ breakthrough 14-9 victory over the Springboks last Saturday night in Durban, slotting three penalty goals in Australia’s first back-to-back Test win in South Africa in 48 years.
But his blemished record, having been fined “several” thousands of dollars for his involvement in a food fight in a Canberra team hotel in 2009, could count against him when selectors pick a team to face New Zealand for next weekend’s potential Tri Nations decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Should O’Connor be stood down, selectors would face a quandary with Lachie Turner – who was overlooked for a World Cup spot this week – the only fully fit winger available as a replacement.
Coach Robbie Deans may have to call up returning outside centre Rob Horne and shift Adam Ashley-Cooper to the wing.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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- Explore:
- All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, James OConnor, Rugby Union, wallabies
August 20th 2011 @ 6:08am
warrenexpatinnz said | August 20th 2011 @ 6:08am | Report comment
Shame of public criticism will be enough. Think his mate has some explaining to do as well, silly bugger but worth a bench spot next weekend and the match fee.
August 20th 2011 @ 6:33am
cinematic said | August 20th 2011 @ 6:33am | Report comment
why? His mate met his obligations. It’s serious from an ARU perspective but doubt any fans of the game really give a toss. But will have to drop him to send a collective message.
August 20th 2011 @ 7:48am
Calital said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:48am | Report comment
The guy should br dropped, the announcement of the RWC is more important than the JOC brand.
August 20th 2011 @ 10:32pm
niwdEyaJ said | August 20th 2011 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
why punish the team (by dropping him). the team should not have to suffer for the actions of an individual. i’d let him play but fine him large (2-3 match payments) for his screw-up.
August 20th 2011 @ 12:09pm
Chuck said | August 20th 2011 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Yes why should his friend have to do any explaining?
O’Conner whilst a world class player is also an ADULT he must take full responsibility for his own actions.
If what is being said is true that he was out on a bender then he should be dropped short and simple.
Deans and co do not want to set a dangerous precident by allowing him off the hook
Then again he is or is he a too valuable player to lose for the Wallabies?
I
August 20th 2011 @ 1:27pm
warrenexpatinnz said | August 20th 2011 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
All gossip until confirmed but my point is a simple one, the ‘mate’ was drinking with him and assume it was until they finished. The mate could have pulled the drinking session early or made sure JOC was up and ready in the morning.
Bad miss by JOC Chuck but at worst a benching and a match fee, not liked he jumped on a BMW or two eh?
August 20th 2011 @ 9:02pm
Chuck said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:02pm | Report comment
O Conner is an Adult Warren end of story he is responsible for his own actions.
Why is it the mates fault?
Who if the “rumours” are true still managed to get himself to the \Wallabies team naming.
He made me do it sir and didn’t tell me to go to bed.
August 20th 2011 @ 6:33am
Mitch said | August 20th 2011 @ 6:33am | Report comment
If the ARU have any balls they’ll drop him for the weekend. Getting fined for being in a food fight and claiming to be ‘on the straight and narrow’ was just a line to placate the media. Getting on the piss hard enough to sleep through your alarm – the night before the RWC team announcement – is something different altogether. Deans must lay the smack down if he wants to galvanize his team for the WC.
I wonder how this will affect ‘his brand’…
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August 20th 2011 @ 7:17am
Damo said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:17am | Report comment
Cinematic, ‘from an ARU perspective’?
Card carrying member of the Wallabies Fans Forum are you?
State your interest in this issue sir (or madam).
‘Drop him’ you say?
Drop Carter, I say – for the trolling his fans indulge in.
August 20th 2011 @ 7:36am
Moaman said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Welcome back Damo!
August 20th 2011 @ 9:39am
cinematic said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Is there such a thing as the Wallabies Fan Forum? Seriously?
August 20th 2011 @ 7:23am
the other Steve - and AB fan said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:23am | Report comment
It should be a eight match ban!!! At least until November.
August 20th 2011 @ 7:37am
p.Tah said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Is dropping him the only way to teach him a lesson and send a collective message to the team? No, they’re an innovative lot they’ll find a way to punish him appropriately without jepodising the Bledisloe match for the rest of the team and the fans.
August 20th 2011 @ 7:54am
Moaman said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:54am | Report comment
p.Tah—Why do you think JOC’s absence would jeopardise the Brisbane match?
August 20th 2011 @ 8:15am
p.Tah said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Is this a trick question?
August 20th 2011 @ 8:46am
AdamS said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:46am | Report comment
p.Tah. Agree, lets call this what it is, a youthful indiscretion. It’s not the end of the world.
His punishment should be;
He has to hand-wash the jersies and clean every-ones boots after the next match.
He has to get a decent haircut
Loses his match fee if his socks are not pulled up during his next game.
August 20th 2011 @ 8:54am
p.Tah said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Good point AdamS, shaving his head could be the greatest punishment in JOCs eyes, he may prefer to sit out the Brisbane game instead.
August 20th 2011 @ 9:05am
AdamS said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Call it a rite of passage. Drew Mitchell only grew up and started firing when he got his buzz cut.
August 20th 2011 @ 12:15pm
Chuck said | August 20th 2011 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
What is there to jeopardise really there is no Cup it is already locked away at NZRU headquarters?
August 20th 2011 @ 2:10pm
p.Tah said | August 20th 2011 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
It’s still a Bledisloe match. We’d still like to win it, the TriNations trophy may still be on offer.
August 20th 2011 @ 9:05pm
Chuck said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
Yes your right it is stilla Bledisloe but it really is a trial match now and the Tri-nations has been largely devalued by the AB’s and Boks this year. It’s a hollow trophy this year and in my opinion maybe the 3N should be done away with in WC years especially if teams are going to treat it like they have this year. Australia are the only one of the three who have fielded full strength teams all the way through. Although after their loss to Samoa they really had no choice but to.
August 20th 2011 @ 8:01am
flying hori said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Deans will play him, he’s 1 of 3 kiwis thats holding the wallabies together
August 20th 2011 @ 8:33am
Christorm said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:33am | Report comment
While much has been made of the over aged AB’s & Springboks compared to the young brash Wallabies rockstars (the backline) whom hold no fear of any opposition.
What fails to be acknowledged is the lack of maturity within the team. They need some experienced campaigners in the mould of Mortlock to pull the young bucks in line.
JOC is a fantastic talent, but needs to at least be benched or fined for his lack of respect to his RWC team-mates & fans!
It’s not that hard; set the alarm… Check, Go get photographed & pampered… Check… Free spread then the day off… Check! Otherwise get a real job & join the rest of us in the real world!… Check-mate!
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August 20th 2011 @ 8:38am
DJ said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Off with his head!!!
August 20th 2011 @ 8:42am
ohtani's jacket said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Who cares whether he plays. If the All Blacks want to they’ll roll the Wallabies just like usual.
August 20th 2011 @ 8:51am
p.Tah said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Possibly OJ, but if we lose whilst JOC is suspended we’ll say that it wasn’t our first choice line up and we’ll get you when it counts in the RWC.
If he does play and we lose, we’ll blame McCaw for cheating and the ref… And then we’ll we call for Deans to be sacked and all the players to be sacked. Same, same…
August 20th 2011 @ 5:24pm
the other Steve - and AB fan said | August 20th 2011 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
sad but true, and truely sad.
August 20th 2011 @ 2:26pm
TommyM said | August 20th 2011 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Yawn…
August 20th 2011 @ 4:51pm
CraigB said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
Spot on OJ they are all rubbish and all they can hope for is mercy from the might of NZ
August 20th 2011 @ 8:37pm
ohtani's jacket said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
JOC found another way to spare the humiliation.
August 20th 2011 @ 9:22am
katzilla said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Hes a young lad out for a good time and enjoying life,
its that exact same nonchalance that was being paraded and relied upon to get the Wallabies over the line against the All Blacks, now its a bad thing?
You can’t have your cake and eat it too, if you want to paint your young players out to be confident, cocky, self assured brash rockstars then best be prepared to accept all the facets of that assertion.
I’d start having a doctor with Thiamine injections at training if i was the ARU.
Its the ARU who should be apologising to JOC for interupting him when he was hungover.
August 20th 2011 @ 10:22am
Tissot Time said | August 20th 2011 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Hey Katz during my 25 odd years of playing rugby I remember numerous occasions, especially towards the end of my career when I went down the grades, of the malodourous rucks, mauls and pile ups that had more than a prominent brewery tinged flavour (amongst other offensive organic offerings). I was often a significant contributor to this olfactory ordinance, but do you know what I always presented and never missed a game. What a lightweight hardened up!
August 21st 2011 @ 11:03am
Harryonthecoast said | August 21st 2011 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Bet you never had a lovely little blonde bird following you around like JOC did when he came off the plane the other day. Maybe he wasn’t on the turps after all!
August 20th 2011 @ 1:29pm
DJ said | August 20th 2011 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Agree with Tissot Time.
Katzlilla, you’re the only one painting them as cocky no? Enjoy yourself yes, but live without consequences? i’m afraid if that were the case then none of the team would have shown up.