Remorseful star James O’Connor appears certain to be banned from the Wallabies’ Tri-Nations decider with coach Robbie Deans and the Rugby Union Players Association incensed by his late-night partying.
Back in the Australian camp in Brisbane on Sunday, O’Connor apologised for missing Thursday morning’s World Cup squad announcement and team photo and said he would cop any punishment on the chin.
He is expected to be officially stood down from Saturday night’s series finale against the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium after the completion of an Australian Rugby Union investigation on Monday.
But O’Connor, reportedly embroiled in a hushed-up incident during last year’s spring tour and also disciplined for a 2009 hotel food fight, could even face a heavier punishment that could rule him out of some World Cup action.
Deans left no doubt about his immense disappointment on Sunday, saying there would be “likely consequences” over the unsavoury distraction to Australia’s hopes of ending a 10-year Tri-Nations drought.
“Part of the game is on the field and part of the game is off the field,” he said at a Ballymore fan day.
“If you can’t rely on your mates off the field, it’s very likely you wont be able to rely on them on the field.
“It’s a necessity in the function of the team (reliance).
“I don’t think anyone in the group is happy. It’s a distraction that we can do without.”
While O’Connor was reportedly spotted at a couple of eastern Sydney hotels along with fullback Kurtley Beale the night before the announcement, the 21-year-old would not reveal the reason behind his Thursday no-show.
“The process is out of my hands, it’s with the ARU and whatever the outcome is I’m willing to cop it,” he said.
“I would like to apologise to all the fans and my teammates.
“I let myself down, I let the fans down and I guess all the Wallabies down and the ARU as well.”
If O’Connor thought he might gain some support from the players union, then he could think again with RUPA president, and prospective Melbourne Rebels teammate, Adam Freier calling for his dumping.
Freier did not believe there was a drinking culture within the Wallabies but felt a strong message needed to be sent to the 28-Test wonderkid.
The former Wallabies hooker was concerned O’Connor, who had explained his shock June defection to the Rebels as the best move for his “brand”, was veering into dangerous territory.
“It’s an early crossroads for him, and he can go two ways here,” Freier told the ABC’s Offsiders program.
“I know what he’s like; he’ll be very disappointed in himself and he’ll be carrying that burden.
“(But) the best thing Robbie can do is starve him of actually performing and hopefully that will move him in a new direction because he’s been rattled talking brands.
“He made a terrible mistake, a lack of judgement, and he should be punished.
“This shouldn’t just be washed over, this is a big deal.”
If O’Connor is dropped, Deans would likely hand Quade Cooper the goalkicking duties and have to reshuffle his backline for Australia’s last Test before the World Cup.
Reserve back Anthony Fainga’a comes into calculations in the centres with either Pat McCabe or Adam Ashley-Cooper likely to move onto O’Connor’s vacant right wing.
Deans could also call World Cup duo Berrick Barnes or Rob Horne into his Test squad, or specialist winger Lachie Turner, but all three have been selected for the Australian Barbarians against Canada on the Gold Coast on Friday night.
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August 22nd 2011 @ 8:04am
Capital said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:04am | Report comment
2 Weeks and a heavy fine.
The kid needs to grow up. Having said that he is young – but if you can’t turn up to the announcement of the RWC side that you have worked hard for – for many years … ??? Then someone needs to lend you a brain.
And I don’t care what the repucussions are for the Bledisloe – this is immature and selfish behaviour and in a squad that has prepared for the RWC for the past 2 years – totally unacceptable.
Book him Danno …
Oh, and warning signs for the Rebels?
August 22nd 2011 @ 8:12am
Big Boppa said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:12am | Report comment
You have to ask the question why the they did not sort this on the day. The fact that the ARU has allowed him till tonight to show cause is stupid as it has opened the door for four days of media speculation. This is typical of the approach and it would have been far better to be decisive. JOC is not helping the Wallabies but the Wallabies are not helping themselves
August 22nd 2011 @ 9:43am
Happy Hooker said | August 22nd 2011 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Wishful thinking BB. Unfortunately, in this day and age there is a process to go through. JOC has to be notified what the charge against him is (like he doesn’t know!), and be allowed time to brief lawyers to file a defence and/or submissions as to penalty. A return to the “olden days” would be nice, but in circumstances where their livelihood is impacted by such determinations, it ain’t going to happen.
August 22nd 2011 @ 9:57am
Big Boppa said | August 22nd 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
He has admitted his error and invited the ARU to throw the book and he will accept it so i dont know why so long. The launch was Thursday so it could have been sorted by COB Friday. The ARU has a dedicated person to deal with it and by all reports JOC has a manager and also a lawyer so it should be feasible unless there are some delicate issues such as where he was (as he clearly was not in the hotel) etc etc
August 22nd 2011 @ 8:25am
cookee said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:25am | Report comment
CAPITAL,
yes the young fellow is getting ahead of himself and deans needs to show he understands team culture which im not sure he does.relacing giteau for oconnor is ironic for this supposed stong discipline coach(joke)
deans got rid of tuqiri,giteau and historically (in nz)got rid of the stars he hadnt found or were keeping him in the shade.
changing captains (elsom chosen by deans)means deans considered elsom a total mistake and detrimental to chances at rwc.
make no mistake deans is the leader but doesnt understand leadership,just inherited culture.
wait for a smack on the hand for james sometime this month when weve all “forgotten” about it.fool on the hill
August 22nd 2011 @ 8:34am
niwdEyaJ said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:34am | Report comment
personally I don’t think JOC should be suspended for the brisbane test. JOC screwed up so JOC should be punished, not the team. I’d fine him $29 grand and use it to give a grand each to the other members of the squad..
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:54am
thurl said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:54am | Report comment
he should take them all out on the town…..His shout
August 22nd 2011 @ 8:45am
johnny-boy said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:45am | Report comment
I’m very impressed by Deans putting the boot in to JOC. Who is this tough talking no nonsense Deans guy ? I havent seen him in 4 years but he’s starting to grow on me. Yikes !
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:00am
Big Boppa said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Dreaming – Deans has expressed disappointment but also said he is not running the discipline process so I dont know he has much to do with it
August 22nd 2011 @ 1:21pm
johnny-boy said | August 22nd 2011 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Big Boppa – I couldn’t think of anything more cutting than to say “if you cant rely on your teammates off the field you cant rely on them on the field”. That’s a pretty sharp dagger from Deans imo. I’d say JOC is pretty close to getting the flick there. If I were him I’d be begging for a last chance, cos that’s all he’s going to get by the sounds of it. His kicking has been rubbish anyway so could be a blessing in disguise.
August 22nd 2011 @ 8:47am
cookee said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:47am | Report comment
moderation is good authenticity is great.
one out of ten is bad ;hypocrisy is worse.
August 22nd 2011 @ 8:57am
darwin stubby said | August 22nd 2011 @ 8:57am | Report comment
“I let myself down, I let the fans down and I guess all the Wallabies down and the ARU as well.” … you guess you’ve let your teammates down ? … still doesn’t seem to have sunk in … if some of the reports are true and teammates have issues with him then there’s a case to be made to drop him completely or it has to be a substantial standdown period and fine imposed – a game game and $13k match fee won’t cut it … it was said the ’03 AB’s had a drinking culture and that was always put down to Mitchell – perhaps Deans had a bigger part to play in it than most thought
certainly looks as though it could be party time in melbourne next year though – JOC, Beale and Cipriani
August 22nd 2011 @ 9:40am
Cattledog said | August 22nd 2011 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Be decisive and set the bar at the correct height. Although I’m a big fan of JOC, he should be dropped from the RWC squad and see if next year he can remain focussed. The Wallabies don’t need his lack of commitment.
I’m all for working hard and playing hard, but when playing gets in the way of working, you’re on the wrong track completely.
There are sponsors out there who pay enormous amounts of money and expect to get something in return. This sort of action flies in the face of sponsorship and has the potential to lose millions of dollars. Brand O’Connor is about as comical as the ‘people of Wal Mart’!
Next indiscretion should see his ARU contract torn up. Tough justice but an example now needs to be set!
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:12am
Who Needs Melon said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Seriously? He should miss the whole World Cup for this? It would be different if there were allegations he’d broken some law or even insulted people that night or otherwise acted the goose. But as far as we know there was no curfew, no drinking ban and so he’s gone out and had a few too many… perhaps in celebration before knuckling down for the next couple of months. Presumably he knew the function the next day was mandatory but if he’d had food poisoning or something he’d have been let off. So punish him for being an immature goose that doesn’t know his limit but don’t ruin his dreams for it.
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:43am
Cattledog said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Sorry WNM, but I think the RWC is bigger than one bloke, who has had several indiscretions and has been punished before. He obviously doesn’t learn! Slaps on the wrist hasn’t worked in the past, why will it work this go round? He’s now becoming a serial offender. The game is much bigger than one player or ‘brand’.
Of course, there are many like yourself who think a lesser punishment is enough. Certainly, if this was his first offence, then I’m the first to say, OK, a lesser punishment. This is applied in all judicial situations. However, I’m afraid I don’t believe in continually giving slaps on the wrist for serial offenders, or those who stuff up the second, third or subsequent times. It doesn’t (hasn’t) sent the required message.
Doesn’t matter who it is, nobody’s above the disciplinary code which needs to be rigidly enforced. This is all assuming, of course, that his absence was of his own doing, which all the evidence including his own admission, is pointing toward.
August 22nd 2011 @ 12:16pm
Who Needs Melon said | August 22nd 2011 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
I’m not advocating a slap on the wrist nor for letting him off lightly because he is a good player – I’d be saying the same thing if it was Horne or Phipps. I just thing something slightly less than missing the whole tournament seems more appropriate.
Having said that, if he has broken a drinking ban as ilikeahoodoogurusingha has posted below, then that’s a different ballgame.
August 22nd 2011 @ 12:12pm
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | August 22nd 2011 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Melon….if the Fairfax press is accurate, there was a drinking ban on some of the players including JOC, due to a reported incident on the spring tour. It’s a tough one, the punishment must be harsh, but not too harsh. Glad it’s not me making the decision.
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:38am
Honeybadger said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:38am | Report comment
That’s a bit drastic you knob Cattledog
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:45am
Cattledog said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:45am | Report comment
You feel enlightened now, Honeybadger?
August 22nd 2011 @ 12:21pm
Capital said | August 22nd 2011 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Cattledog
I agree with all sentiments, but my opinion is that One week is too soft, and entire RWC extremely harsh.
I believe two weeks sends the right message to all players that disciplie and unity are critical in an RWC campaign.
The Bledisloe Cup match, if we are good enough to beat the ABs will be one match he didn’t contribute, and nor will he get to hold the 3N. The first match of the RWC campaign, as his team mates get psyched and prepped will also be a timely reminder.
And we all saw what happened to Mitchell when he was dropped – and luckily got back into the side – instant match winner with all the right squad traits.
August 22nd 2011 @ 2:18pm
Cattledog said | August 22nd 2011 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Capital, what I have advocated is harsh, probably extremely harsh. However, this extreme is only advocated if 1. He is responsible and 2. This is not an isolated incident.
You would think he would have learnt from the food fight…apparently not. Seems there may well be another incident that perhaps has not come to light.
These guys get paid an obscene amount of money and it behoves them in accepting that pay check to tow the line. There are also sponsors and the rest of the team to consider. If a strong message isn’t sent now, then we are in a real quandary further down the track should this happen again. And I have no doubt it will…
The action taken needs to send a clear and unambiguous message. Pity more of our magistrates didn’t jump on a similar bandwagon.
August 22nd 2011 @ 3:07pm
Capital said | August 22nd 2011 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Cattledog
Again, I appreciate the whole picture – and that he must be punished – fairly and equitably with his actions, and consistent with team expectations.
And then you get 3 of the Fab Four – JOC, Beale and Cooper at a press conference and its like a big kids show
So a food fight should have been sorted by the internal leadership group.
A discipline issue after that my management, and considered at contract renewal.
And this issue – lets deal with it, punish him and move on.
August 22nd 2011 @ 6:12pm
Cattledog said | August 22nd 2011 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
Can’t help but think some stronger punishments, dealt with earlier, may have avoided this situation. Perhaps there are set punishment guidelines, detailed for all to see, comprehend and agree to, drawn up by RUPA and the ARU. Do this, and this is the result, but do that and expect to get this punishment. These punishments can be fairly severe…but they then know exactly what to expect.
That way everyone’s clear and all can move on.
August 22nd 2011 @ 9:48am
Gary Russell-Sharam said | August 22nd 2011 @ 9:48am | Report comment
They’ll slap him on the wrist and tell him he was a naughty boy,(they will fine him a pittance in relation to what he is payed and ban him from the ABs game) and he will do it all over again at a later date. He drinks too much of his own bathwater to take any notice of this sort of reprimand. Look out the rebels. The pubs and nightclubs in Melbourne will be getting a working over from Beale O’Connor and Cipriani. Leopards don’t change their spots. The problem is these guys have grown up with this attitude and they’ve had years of people that surround them telling them that they are untouchable. They believe that they are like Cassius Clay (the greatest) the big difference is the Clay was the greatest. O’Connor couldn’t give a rat’s bum what you, I, the team or the ARU think. The only thing that matters to O’Connor is O’Connor. Is he a good player, most certainly. Is he better than the team (he thinks he is) most certainly not. Who is going to have the balls to tell him to toe the line and back up these words with proper sanctions. No one!!!! I’ve seen it before over 40 odd years of rugby, coaching, managing, administration etc Administration boys go to water when they think they have a star in the making, they have this misguided outlook that if they upset them in any way they will not play for the team. It’s frustrating to see this type of weak behaviour but it’s the norm in all aspects of administration over all sports.
August 22nd 2011 @ 10:46am
Johnno said | August 22nd 2011 @ 10:46am | Report comment
there is only one option now and i am with cattledog sack JOC and i would go a step further tear up his contract, and he should be made an example off that this sort of behaviour can not be tolerated by rolled models and footballers. This is not the 1st incident. When will the nRL and ARU get tough on these players. Sack them and sack carney, and send JOC to play in Japan or south of France then he will learn the hard way how much if it did mean something to him the Wallaby jumper meant.