I was watching the Fox Sports presentation of the recent Hong Kong Sevens and a blond-haired, young Australian player caught my eye, and the eye of the commentators.
He was chunky, dynamic, had a great step, ran hard and straight when forcing gaps, passed nicely and was generally abrasive and positive in his play.
He reminded me of the time I went out to Concord Oval with the great rugby columnist Evan Whitton to watch the Australian Schoolboys play the Irish Schoolboys.
A blond-haired inside centre took an inside cut, straightened and then shot, as if jet-propelled, in a dazzling 70m run to the Irish tryline.
We looked at each other the way explorers do when they discover something remarkable. The name on the program of the flashing star was Tim Horan.
At Hong Kong, the flashing new star was named by the commentators as James O’Connor, 18, recruited from school by the Western Force.
Judging by his Hong Kong Sevens form, it must only be a matter of time, late this year perhaps, or next season, for O’Connor to front up in the Force’s backline.
If the promise evolves into performance in the 15-man game, there is a delicious prospect ahead of Force supporters, and Wallaby fans, in due course, of a Giteau-Connor five-eighths combination.
The other point of interest at Hong Kong, and at the IRB Adelaide Sevens, is the wonderful way the New Zealand Sevens side plays and wins its matches.
This outstanding side, surely one of the great teams in world sport right now, has won the last seven IRB Sevens tournaments.
There is only one player in the squad who may be a future star in the 15-man game – Victor Vito, a big (112kg and 194cm), fast and skillful winger in Sevens and flanker in the 15-man game.
In the crucial semi-final against Fiji, Vito chased and caught the first four kick-offs. This enabled New Zealand to annihilate Fiji.
Gordon Tietjens coaches the NZ Sevens side, and he must be in the running for rugby’s coach of the year.
Every tournament the New Zealand side brings a new tactic or play, all of them perfectly executed. At Hong Kong, for instance, it was chasing and catching the kick-offs.
What will the new tactic be at Adelaide? Will the stars like O’Connor and Vito shine? And will NZ make it eight tournament wins in a row?
Chuck
Guest
Chunky? The guy is about 80kg soaking wet
callum
Guest
give it time. at the moment he needs to force his way into a backline with the likes of giteau, cross, staniforth, shephard and mitchell. once hes done that and then strings together performances then he can be the next tim horan. but tim horan was in view the best there was and best there ever will be at inside centre. no its up to james o'connor to prove me wrong
Burgs
Guest
Back to topic for a moment... Well spotted Spiro, young James played out of his skin on "run-on" debut last night against the Chiefs. Maybe a few blemishes if compared to a seasoned player but for someone still to young to vote I believe he deserves a huge pat on the back for his poise against some huge man mountains in the Chiefs pack and for his willingness to have a crack and play his natural game when outside one of the worlds best players in Giteau.
stillmissit
Guest
During a discussion on 'what do you do all day' In my average daily plan I suggested 1-2 hours on the Roar. She nearly choked and said it's at least 4 and sometimes maybe more. But that can't be true can it? Time fly's when your having fun with a minor obsession. Which is not the case today when I have had to go and dig the garden for 3 hours. Roll on 5.30.
Vincent
Guest
well if its any consolation then I'm last in the tipping comp of Rugby League, she kicks my butt in that big time...I'm getting married next year but I've made sure the wedding dates are 'safe dates'..nothing like fidgeting at the altar with pictures of an epic battle of the Bledisloe in the mind... only person who can ruin it is if any of my closest and dearest decide to get married on inappropriate dates..I'm hoping they'll have the good manners and politeness to change those dates at my request. I wouldn't call it an obsession..maybe a keen interest...?
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Nice one Ben My wife still holds a sneaking suspicion that when I proposed to her on the night of the second Bledisloe in 2003 when NZ won it back, that it was just because of the sheer euphoria of the win. My wife does enjoy watching rugby and is becoming quite knowledgeable about the myriad of laws but doesn't share my obsession with the game or the countless post match repeat viewings. Good luck all with your tips for the weekend
Ben C
Guest
Sam I'm sorry but I feel that leading an AFL tipping competition is nothing to boast about. My wife goes to the rugby with me, understands a fair bit about it and is tolerant of my degree of interest (obsession?) She did however put her foot down and not let me bring a television to our reception which was on the night of the 05 Bledisloe Cup. My father did smuggle in a small radio and discretely provided update scores.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
What I can't work out is how a non rugby follower (like my wife) can still kick my ass when it comes to rugby tipping. I think I'm guilty of overanalysing. Mind you I'm better than her when it comes to AFL tipping so it all balances out.
Vincent
Guest
at this point I am consdering myself lucky in that I've just spent the afternoon arguing about super14 tips with my girlfriend...the bonus is that I am ahead of her in the tipping stakes, yet she kicked my arse when I tipped only the Chiefs to beat the Crusaders...so yes..I'm keeping her!
stillmissit
Guest
Sam and Ben C Believe me it's worse if she is a rugby fan as mine is. She pours scorn on most of my ideas and thinks I am wasting my time talking to you lot presumeably because she knows everything and I should just be talking to her - If I have a problem! Nice Eh!
eric
Guest
Now you have touched on a sensitive, well hidden problem here...the non-rugby wife. I recently made my wife read that article in another paper, by Terry Smith about Julian Huxley. I was quite moved by it, but my wife said "What do you mean, that cameraderie stuff?" I give up meekly, and move off to search for like minded people at The Roar.
Ben C
Guest
Sam That is a very disturbing image.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Stillmissit I know what you mean, my wife thought I had signed up to one of those online dating sites or something because I was spending so much time on the internet and checking email. When I explained to her about the Roar she answered "Oh so you are having an affair then, just with a bunch of other rugbyheads"
stillmissit
Guest
Jools you are right about the great strides we made in establishing RU in the 90's. I think some people thought it was a fait accompli after the 2003 WC and decided we didn't need an O'Neil anymore "We are all capable of being a JON and maybe better" I am sure they thought that. The end result is the mess we have been in. In sport in Australia you are only ever one big ballsup away from being a tier 2 sport. My partner thinks I am turning our house into an old people's home with internet access, to chat to you blokes about rugby matters that don't matter, according to her -what would she know I ask quietly.
jools-usa
Guest
Stillmissit. Agree with next ten years. We either make it or RL takes our talent. Don't have the figures but didn't RU take audiences away from RL in the winning 90's? Hopefully, RFU will roar back (under ELVs), and Deans & other new Super 14 coaches. On a personal note, I need ten more good years before better half stuffs me into that "oldies" home where I can't set the alarm & watch a 3:30am Antipodes game Jools-USA
stillmissit
Guest
Guys how come you have almost all put Berrick Barnes at inside centre? I still have him as the Australian 5/8th and leave Giteau at 12 as I believe he shows more maturity than any of the other youngsters around and has great defensive ability. We need a 5/8th both this year and over the next one who has all the skills and not just the passing and backing up. In two years time who knows all of these boys show enormous talent.
Chris
Guest
O'connor for 10 not 13. 9: Burgess/Holmes, 10: O’Connor/Beale/Cooper, 12: Giteau/Barnes, 13: Cross/Horne. But yeah front row????
Bob McGregor
Guest
LHS, Good point about depth requirements but could argue with you about order you used for some backline positions. I'm still hoping Mortlock will be around. I could envisage him as a Harry Wells type centre [1950/60's League centre who set Reg Gasnier up for many tries in Tests of that era] who has the strength to off load in the tackle to set us the abundance of speed and talent coming through. Holmes appears slower in moving the ball this year - hope that is function of Brumbies style requirements previously dictated there by Gregan rather than added [?] bulk slowing him down, as I still believe his vision around the field is excellent. Apart from incident where he was stripped of the ball at base of ruck by the Chiefs for run away try, his 2 try haul close to maul earlier and beautifully timed/positioned pass to put 5/8 in between posts last game was great to see. What I particularly like about both Burgess and Holmes is they have VISION around the field. They will set up many opportunities. What is now required is for other backs/forwards to "sense" these opportunities and move to support them and not "sit" back and cheer them on as so often seems to happen. We need speed to back these moves as far more tries will result. Lachie Turner for one needs to sense these moves much earlier as he will score many more tries when he does. Beale's vision last game with his "box" kick for Carter's try was a gem. He gets better each game no doubt due to better service from Burgess. Hopefully his kicking will get better as well. His style causes a curve in the flight of the ball - especially when on RHS of the field thereby "reducing" angle at the posts. Perhaps he should "copy" Alan Donald's kicking technique [Chiefs 5/8]. He has almost eliminated the curve in flight and the results show. I continue to salivate about our prospects for the next 10 years and reason depth of talent across ALL positions is crucial to maintain standards.
LeftArmSpinner
Guest
Chris, don't go with one or the other. Consider them all. Injuries dictate that you need more than one in each position. 9: Burgess/Lucas/Holmes, 10: Giteau/Beale/Cooper, 12: Barnes/Cooper/O'Connor, 13: O'Connor/Horne. And that is just for starters. There are plenty more where they came from: Liliafano; Afiaki; Cummins, Mafi, ++++++. Just need a front row.
Chris
Guest
O'Connor played WA club rugby for Cottesloe on the weekend in a game featuring a handful of force players. He was by far and away the best player on the park. He will jump Beale and make the Wallaby squad for the next world cup. He has it all and is a good kid with a good mentality at training.