He was paying an extra penalty after his one-match suspension for sleeping in following a big night out, missing the announcement of the Cup squad and photo shoot.
Inexcusable.
Coach Robbie Deans wanted to retain the side that beat the All Blacks to regain the Tri-Nations, ending a decade long drought – so he benched O’Connor.
Noble to those who secured the win, but a mistake.
And that’s what the Wallabies did yesterday in the first half against Italy with mistake after mistake. But with the score locked a 6-all, O’Connor strutted his stuff as only he can.
In the space of 16 minutes the Wallabies scored four superb tries by Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, O’Connor, and Digby Ioane.
O’Connor converted three of them and the Wallabies romped home 32-6.
That was by far the best performance of the Rugby World Cup “Big Five” – All Blacks, Wallabies, Boks, France, and England.
But it begs the question if the Wallabies can pile on 26 points in just 16 minutes, what happened to the other 64?
The answer to that question will be the difference between winning and losing the Holy Grail.
One thing for certain, the Wallabies boast the best backline in the tournament. Utilise them with good clean ball, and often.
The other four nations have early tournament kinks in their armour.
The All Blacks beat Tonga 41-10, but were far from convincing. In four previous meetings, the men-in-black averaged 11 tries a game against the Islanders.
This was hard work, and if it hadn’t been for Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Israel Dagg, and Jerome Kaino, the win would have been even harder.
Forget the scoreline, that flattered the All Blacks. Next up is Japan on Friday, but it’s the following crunch game against France on September 24 at Eden Park where All Black coach Graham Henry will have a selection headache with three centres and two spots.
SBW had a blinder against Tonga, so did Ma’a Nonu, leaving the normally automatic first choice selection Conrad Smith vulnerable. He’s had a quiet season so far by his lofty standards – a problem Henry has to solve.
The defending champion Boks were “beaten”, although the scoreline reads 17-16 in their favour against Wales.
In the 20th minute, with the Boks leading 10-3, Welsh full-back James Hook’s penalty shot sailed high above the right-hand upright, and inside, but flagged away by the touchies.
I’ve replayed it 20 times, and convinced the kick was a goal. But for Wales it was a kick in the guts.
That was magnified in the 69th minute when fly-half Rhys Priestland made a woeful attempt at a field goal from right in front, so close he could have thrown it over. He dragged it well left. The youngster will have nightmares about that for many a moon.
Playing at breakneck speed Wales deserved to win right across the park. It wasn’t to be and the Boks survived, given a mighty wake-up call.
France began at breakneck speed as well, putting on 14 points in the first 12 minutes against Japan.
But early in the second half it was 25-21, thanks to Japan playing some sensational rugby, and France taking the pedal off the metal.
In the end France won 47-21, but it was Japan being saluted, especially by French skipper Thierry Dusautoir.
“They played beautiful rugby, dynamic rugby. The spectators loved it, they gave us a hard time.
“We can only congratulate them”.
Canada will be next up for France at Napier on Sunday.
England was another of the “Big Five” to dodge a bullet in their 13-9 win over Argentina.
The 2003 World Cup champions, wearing their controversial all-black strip, scored the only try late in a boring penalty shootout game.
It was almost an all-black day for England when champion goal-kicker Jonny Wilkinson landed just two from eight. It didn’t matter, Puma counterpart Martin Rodriguez replied with two from seven.
Next for England will be Georgia at Carisbrook on Sunday, where they can iron out the kinks.
There’s a long way to go, but as it sits the Wallabies are sitting pretty with fewer kinks than their main opposition.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Looks like I am the real idiot! :-)
Capital
Roar Guru
We are dealing three idiots LOL
Suzy Poison
Guest
That would be the logic for almost any coach. Start with your best players, then you will probably not be in a position, of having to come from behind with 15minutes. However we are not dealing with any three coaches. We are dealing three idiots. Yes it's not just P Divvy who is to blame here, Dick Muir is the backline coach, can someone please tell me how he earns his money? We have a defence coach Jaques Nienaarber who has definately made an impact, as in the last three games, the Boks have only conceded one try per game against, Wallabies, All Blacks and Wales. So that must mean that Dick Muir is the attack coach, why bother having one, when you just boot the ball at every opportunity? What a joke.
Capital
Roar Guru
Suzy agree Wales might have had the game to win, but they haven't learnt to take the next step and believe / trust at the clinch. A bit like the Wallabies until a couple of crucial games last year. Its one thing being good enough to win, its another learning to win and being mature enough to trust at critical times in a match. The drop goal effort was pretty poor. The penalty was fairly long out. But the tunring point as above was pretty aimless and clueless. I was really disappointed with the Welsh coaching staff - as the Boks rang the changes (lessons learnt from 3N) the Welsh coach held his tiring players for at least 12-15 minutes too long. His forwards were tiring, the Boks were starting to fire and they were exposed in attack then defence. The players lost the match through fatigue and lack of leadership. The coach lost the match through failure to maintain the intensity when they had momentum. The changes should have been rung - similar to early criticisms of Deans in our closely lost matches last year.
soapit
Guest
but oconnor replaced aac and aac then replaced fainga if you get the difference. so its not points off for fainga that oconnor played better. if they'd left fainga on and just gone a straight swap aac for ocnnor who i wonder whether it would have panned out better or worse. i feel like a broken record but it drives me crazy when beale tries to beat someone on the outside with 10m to the sideline, then panics and gives a hospital pass to his marked winger when he can't get around his man. its not under 6's kurtley, funnily your not the only fast guy playing international rugby. if they're gonna do it get organised and get the winger to switch back in. its just a handover of possession every time at the moment.
Mike
Guest
Interesting assessment Suzy. It seems strange for the boks to leave Bismarck du P and Hougaard on the bench. Hasn't Smit played at prop before? Would shifting him there be an option?
jameswm
Guest
for now...
Justin
Guest
Higginbotham should start at 6 this week. He deserves a start in his correct position. Elsom was ordinary on the weekend. His one busting run resulted in him not passing to two unmarked players, as usual. How come he hasnt learned to put the ball in two hands or free an arm and offload?
Justin
Guest
Wow cut him from the squad for dropping one chance...
Suzy Poison
Guest
Yes, CAPITAL, there is no given result the "Group of death". Without a doubt, the Boks could easily lose to both Fiji and Samoa. I do tend to agree with Jake White, that the Boks dodged a bullet, and the near miss may galvanise them, but who knows with the idiot bunch of coaches we have? Yeah, Smit is old and slow, but they will need him, if, as expected, Matfiled is out for 10 days, so Bismark will start on the bench again. Interesting Matfield's influence on the game, is not as profound as before, as there are just not that many lineouts anymore. Will be interesting to watch the Wales and Samoa game on Sunday. Based on Wales's performance against the Boks, you would back Wales. Wales have been preparing for the Bok game for a year, having a training camps in Poland and you could feel they really expected a result, and believed they could win, and they should have won. The loss might really deflate them, they gave 200% and still lost. However Samoa have so much support in New Zealand, it's like their second team. Samoa will bring Island brutality, but Wales have a better pack and Sam Warburton would probably make a World 15. Also Samoa have a tougher draw. We will learn more about Samoa on Wednesday when they play Namibia, but can they back it up against Wales, just 5 days later?
Mike
Guest
Jokerman, The AB backs were outstanding, manufacturing numerous opportunities as well as the four tries. The problem Henry faces is that they had to win it in spite of their forwards. That won't cut it in the bigger matches. Its part of the forward problems that every one of the top five faced over the weekend.
Capital
Guest
Suzy, I was half thinking during the match that if Wales could get over the Boks, then Samoa would be a chance and they could be gone. I think they have real concerns at the moment with Smit as Captain, and the potential of Matfield and or Botha being out. Matfield adds so much in defence, and counter attack at lineouts - as well as his leadership. He is the big settler in teh side, and without him as a quiet backup for Smit, tey looked pretty ordinary. But - job done. And Wales really should have put them away. The turning point was the attacking ruck when they were lethargic and disorgansied and the Boks counter rucked to potentially save the match.
Mike
Guest
I agree Youngs was very impressive when he came on for England. They have some good backs, but their forwards are going to have to pick up or it won't help them.
Tom
Guest
A few things I would like to say: O Connor must start for Australia. Priestland is not an international 10 (yet) and Wales need Hook or Jones back in the team. Youngs must start for England. He just provides the urgency and quick ball that England need to succeed, which can then unleash Foden and Ashton. Thoughts?
Jaffa
Guest
Fainga'a will survive due to Ioane's thumb injury.His game on Sunday wasn't too bad, with few opportunities. AAC back to the wing. McCabe will stay. I can't agree with the criticisms of the Wallaby scrum. The problems only arose after the bench guys got a run, by which time the match was won. Italy played pretty well to a very limited plan, but got run down as fatigue set in through the second half. At this level every team can contain their oppponents for 40 minutes - the good sides assert themselves as the match lengthens. As an example the South Africans used their bench extremely effectively. Hougaard outstanding when he came on . Same applies to JOC's impact off the bench for the Wallabies. In my view the Wallabies made a good start to the tournament, playing patiently ,probing , testing and eventually beating the Azzuri's tiring and increasingly dispirited defenders. Ireland will be a tougher test, but I'm quietly confident the Wallabies will be better for the run.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Brett Not sure I would do a straight swap with Fainga'a. We'll need strong defence next Saturday and frankly, I know none better than AF...er, perhaps Ben Tapuai, but he's playing for Sunnybank ;) At any rate, the thumb injury to Digby has thrown a small spanner in the works. Will be an interesting selection problem for Dingo.
Mike
Guest
David, Good article, thank you. I agree with many of your points, but I'm still not ready to agree that Wallabies are clearly the best of the top 5. They've all got problems. And most of those problems for each team are in the forwards: * The AB forwards seemed to be missing in action against Tonga, especially Richie; * England forwards struggling, not so much Tindall but Sheridan and their hooker were anonymous and Cole weas kidding himself; * Australian forwards very lll-disciplined in first half - not just with referee but at breakdown and everywhere else; * Even before the injuries, Bokke hard men weren't very hard. Shining exception was Brussow. I agree O'Connor turned in a bolter of a performance and must start. Moore turned in a very sound performance, and Horwill was deservedly MOTM, for a number of reasons. Yes, Aussie second half was a transformation, but it was the same for every top team - AB backs were great whenever their forwards got them some ball (not nearly as often as they should have), Bokke dug in and fought off Wales, England held off Argentina and France came back against the blossoms. But they all have a lot of work to do - they've all been tested.
Damo
Guest
Why thank you Gummy...I think......now .. ... Was that a compliment? If so, I don't want to read one of your insults.
Sprigs
Guest
They were thrilling tries, whatever anybody says.
Sprigs
Guest