Melbourne Rebels and Wallabies forward Scott Higginbotham has endorsed the club’s sacking of Test five-eighth James O’Connor, saying it had to happen.
Higginbotham said the 12th-placed Rebels’ move not to offer O’Connor a Super Rugby contract for 2014 had nothing to do with his playing ability but was the right decision for the club.
“He has been an outstanding player for the club and he is a Wallaby. No one questions his playing ability,” Higginbotham told reporters.
“It was more a selection issue and how the club felt he fitted into the team dynamic.
“With a lot of young guys coming through and new guys shining, it was a time start fresh.
“It was a good opportunity and I think it’s just what had to happen.”
Higginbotham said it would be better for O’Connor to develop his skills and personality at a different club.
The Rebels are keen to retain O’Connor’s close friend Kurtley Beale, who has battled alcohol issues and was sent home after clashing with teammates in Durban in March.
Beale and O’Connor infuriated then Wallabies coach Robbie Deans when they were photographed at a fast-food outlet at 4am a few days before the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne.
“He’s a great team player and the rest of the playing group really do enjoy and love playing with him,” said Higginbotham, who will miss Friday’s season-ending home game against the Highlanders with hip and shoulder injuries.
“If he sorts out those off-field issues, then there is no issue with him.”
Notremos
Guest
Hey Bennalong. No question about talent. I am an O'coonor fan. But as Link says this is a reresentative side. When he disrespects what he has been given he disrespects every Australian. I train my kids to understand that they need to be responsible for their action as they come with consequences. Too bad O'coonor didn't learn that lesson. He needs some time in purgatory to be one a better person. a team player.
bennalong
Guest
O'Connor is 23, just! He's a dumb kid! This heavy crap is unnecessary! He's entirely salvageable. Give him a break and he'll wake up Why Cooper is dodging the bullets is he got what he deserved and is not being a smart arse about it Given the chance O;Connor will shape up fine He scored a fantastic try against the Lions and engineered another which he emulated for the Rebels tonight.
colvin
Guest
Well I might have to backtrack a bit. Apparently the Brand didn't show for a team meeting on Sunday morning at 10am after the Kings Cross nightclub visit. Apparently Robbie gave his farewell speech and thanked the team for their support and efforts. From all accounts the team were pretty peeved that Brand didn't show.
go bananas
Guest
Michael Ceika anyone?
RAF
Guest
I heard the same thing from my club's manager who is in the know with someone in the W Force. I think his brand is "Tossa"
johnson
Guest
Sorry but I don't see the issue with going out after the third game of the lions tour. Have we really come to this? He probably had not had a drink since training began for the lions tour, due to the alcohol ban. He was probably not due back to the super rugby ranks till Tuesday. There was no reference to drunken carrying on. So I don't see the problem. Sorry Badjack I don't see an evening out after footy as immature whether he is professional or not, and sorry Soapit I have not heard he was lacking in effort or storing energy for a night out rather than playing in the test. He was actually one of our better players (although the bar was not set very high). Give the guy a break, he has been a nob of late, but this is getting boring. Do we really want to go down this path of criticism with footballers?
Justin3
Guest
You'd think he would learn at some stage Juts but apparently his old man is a nightmare too...
Badjack
Guest
Colvin, these guys are earning close to a million a season,when you were playing was the money that big. They have close to a million reasons each year to act like mature young fellows proud to represent their country and not like amateur hour big heads. Somehow I think "Brand O'Connor" has been devalued since he let us in on the fact he was a 'brand'. A business goes to great lengths to 'protect' their brand. Perhaps Brand O'Connor could seek advice from a brand expert on how to protect himself from himself.
jutsie
Guest
yep, fledgling clubs with poor management and depth who have failed to act swiftly when these blokes first act up and also do not have any option but to let them play due to the lack of depth.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Cut by the Force for being a self centred pratt. Cut by the Rebels for being a self centred pratt. there is a pattern
RebelRanger
Guest
I think it becomes a reason when said d&#%head doesn't win games.
RebelRanger
Guest
You mean Quades team?
soapit
Guest
important for the senior players to show they're united with management
Boomeranga
Guest
It would be good if Hill could be retained somewhere as an assistant. Maybe he is not yet (or perhaps ever) up to standard of HC, but he would have learnt a lot in the past few years. Agree on JOC. He is a terrific talent and still only 22 or so, but gives the impression he needs a little encourgaingment to get over himself a bit.
soapit
Guest
no its not so bad but it doesnt send a great message if you're acting like you've left enough in the tank to go out clubbing after a massive loss. also doesnt show great team commitment that they left the rest of the squad after a match.
jutsie
Guest
I feel that way too, beale seems like a likeable character in general if he's not on the booze but o'connor comes across as a little sh&&. But since when did this become a reason to not have a player in a team. Some of the biggest sportstars have been arrogant pr**ks. shane warne, wayne carey, michael jordan etc
Fin
Guest
Beale is salvageable JOC is not, pretty much sums it up. I think people like KB and think he just has some issues, whereas JOC appears to be a DH.
Schuey
Guest
R.e. http://www.james-oconnor.com.au/ Horrific. If kiwi, saffa and pommy mates in the office get wind of this am toast. The lad needs some new advisors.
Dan
Guest
I thought JOC was a fair gamble over cooper and he nor Beale can be blamed for onfield effort. Off field another story for all of them. Deans couldn't motivate or inspire and campo saying words to the effect that he killed wallabies style rugby was not far off into mind. You can imagine how horwill and rest of boys who stood up took that. Scrum dominated by lions team who believed more. Confidence, aggression, hunger ... Example we need to take on. When's pocock back ? Sigh
John
Guest
My take is there is more here than we realize. Example: if a guy punches his captain and a team-mate when he is drunk, he has an excuse. He is being a w%$^er, and you may not like it, but he's drunk. Yet if a guy is being a w%$^er when sober, it pisses people off. You can excuse the first but its tough to excuse the second. Another example: misbehaving when you are drunk, consistently, in the company of others is one thing. Misbehaving consistently when you are alone is different. When JOC missed the announcement of the RWC squad he was the only one. No QC, no Beale. So i wonder whether Rebels team leadership and management has decided Beale is salvageable whereas JOC is not. Another possible explanation is that Beale's skills are more suited to a team game whereas JOC's are more of the individual brilliance variety. Thus, Beale offers more to the team whereas JOC offers to only himself. Case in point - no-one seems to think JOC did much as 10 in the Lions series whereas Beale has performed at 10 (he was the starting 10 in the 2008 final against the Crusaders, wasn't he? when he went off injured after 60 minutes the Waratahs were leading). JOC needs to grow up, whereas Beale needs better friends. i wonder who is in the new coach's squad.