The news that James O’Connor had been released by the Reds and was heading back to Europe brought back a taste of the venom that has tainted Australian rugby for a decade.
Now that the Wallabies have recovered their mojo and are flying high, it seems ancient history, but mere mention of the name O’Connor brings the ill-feeling flooding back. Social media feeds were once again clogged with the special sort of nameless nastiness that goes with the territory.
“Missed out on the World Cup squad so heading back to the big money”; “I am sorry but I have no fond memories of that poorly behaved prick” and “The bloke has no ticker… I hope he never comes back”.
Judging by the vitriol, you’d think that James O’Connor was a drug cheat, a match fixer or had a case of the Hopoates, but he was none of these. In fact, it’s important to note here that James O’Connor has never been charged by police, busted for drugs, used a prohibited substance, been done for domestic violence, or pissed in his own mouth.
His crime? Simply put, to all outward appearances, he’s been fairly well up himself, and has not been entirely respectful to the Wallaby jersey. The question is whether these are hard indicators of plain bad character, or pointers to another kind of emotional or mental fragility.
In reality, there are very few genuinely damaged characters, and James O’Connor isn’t one of them. He’s done some stupid stuff sure, but pretty much all born out of either anger management (Perth airport, Adam Thompson and the Spring Tour scrap), or poor impulse control (Hungry Jacks at 4am).
It is easy, nay attractive, to write the guy off. But it is also unfair. Often the explanation is one step past the obvious.
So he took the Wallaby jersey for granted? How could one not, when you were parachuted into the Australian Sevens team straight out of Australian Schoolboys and played your first Test at 18 years old?
Imagine never having fought your way through club ranks to Super Rugby and beyond. It is no wonder that the Wallabies didn’t feel much different to a school First XV.
Impossible for us mere mortals to imagine, but it happens. Even the great – and now universally forgiven – Matt Giteau has admitted that he only realised what he had once it was gone.
“I realise the importance and position I was in, the privilege I had, which I took for granted.” said Giteau.
In any case, the assumption is that James O’Connor actually likes playing rugby. And that shouldn’t be a given. Just because it’s an obvious choice for a prodigy, doesn’t mean they want to do it. In many cases it’s a trap. The social and peer pressure to make something of a gift, can be suffocating.
Recall Will and his buddy Chuckie talking about Will’s mathematical genius in Good Will Hunting.
“Will: Oh, come on! Why is it always this, I mean, I fuckin’ owe it to myself to do this? What if I don’t want to?
Chuckie: Alright. No. No no. Fuck you. You don’t owe it to yourself. You owe it to me. ‘Cause tomorrow I’m gonna wake up and I’ll be fifty and I’ll still be doing this shit. And that’s all right, that’s fine. I mean, you’re sittin’ on a winning lottery ticket and you’re too much of a pussy to cash it in.”
It’s useful to imagine O’Connor as the Good Will Hunting of rugby. It’s hard to believe, but what if one didn’t want to be a Wallaby?
What if you just wanted to play rugby on weekends for fun? What if you didn’t want the pressure? What if you felt railroaded into that career choice? What if other people were relying on you for their own fulfilment?
It is a bit easier to understand why someone might behave badly. The problem is, when someone is pressured into a law career, and then walks away to become an artist, we applaud them for self-realisation. But we never stop to imagine that someone might not want to play for the Wallabies for a living.
“So don’t take the contract then” say the commenters on the forums, to which I say, let he who has never succumbed to peer, agent or family pressure, cast the first stone.
As for the selectors, just imagine, for a moment, if you will, being so good that the selectors themselves beg you to turn out. As I say, it is hard for us mortals to imagine, but it happens.
Whatever the underlying issues, there is no question about one thing, and that is that James O’Connor remains the most incredible talent of his generation. He has been more physical and complete than Quade Cooper, and a mile more consistent than Kurtley Beale. Of the three, O’Connor is easily the best Test player.
He has hardly played a bad game at Test level. His worst displays were at flyhalf against the British Lions. He should never have been picked there of course. It was a bad combination of a poor selection from coach Robbie Deans, misguided optimism from O’Connor himself, and the fiendish difficulty of playing 10 well at Test level.
Remember that even the great Tim Horan, Australia’s greatest post-war back, was just adequate as a flyhalf. It is not an easy position to play. O’Connor thought he could do it, but shouldn’t have had the chance to find out.
Aside from that, he was generally sublime. Even the haters couldn’t argue with his ridiculous rugby talent.
Witness his “perfect game” against the Springboks in 2011. His Bledisloe Cup heroics in 2010, scoring the winning try and kicking the goal after time to win the match. His three-try Test debut against Italy. The highlights will tie you to YouTube for an hour.
Typical commentary included this gushing enthusiasm as O’Connor was about win an All Blacks Test for the Wallabies…
”O’Connor, twenty years of age, has stepped inside two and smashed the ball down… (Who’s going to take this kick?)… May as well give it to O’Connor! Why not?… he does not care about the pressure. He has ice in his veins this kid. Honestly, he can sidestep, he can run through people.”
The author of the above line was an excited Greg Martin, the acerbic great-to-be-an-Australian-but-better-to-be-a-Queenslander pundit.
Martin decided this week that he didn’t like O’Connor anymore, especially once he had ended his Reds stint, saying that he was the “Justin Bieber of Australian rugby’ and further, was an “immature waster of talent the Queensland Reds are better off without”.
The views are at odds with comments from Brian Smith following O’Connor’s time at London Irish.
“Since the age of 18 he’s lived in a goldfish bowl in Australia. He’s been the golden-haired boy and everyone’s made comments on his every move. Not every young bloke makes all the right moves but, since he’s been here [in London], he hasn’t put a foot out of line,” Smith said.
Even bona-fide Wallaby legend Matt Giteau, O’Connor’s teammate at his next club Toulon, was convinced O’Connor was a changed man.
“For me he went through that experience where he wasn’t wanted really by any of the Super Rugby clubs, and that would centre anyone and bring them back down.”
“That hunger is back for him, and as a bloke he has matured enormously. He gelled with the group really well, he trained hard and applied himself really hard. I was really impressed with him.”
Unfortunately, O’Connor’s desperate bid for a World Cup spot unravelled at the Reds. Playing with a serious undiagnosed knee injury, under a poor coach, in a losing team, it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t make it back to his best.
What is also a shame is that O’Connor wasn’t able to play under Michael Cheika. There is little doubt that the tough, honest Cheika would have brought out O’Connor’s best character and best rugby. Witness Kurtley Beale, flaky and dysfunctional under Deans and McKenzie, now in form and back at his best under Cheika.
It’s easy to write James O’Connor off. But underneath it all, he’s just a good kid who has behaved badly. Like any kid, when they’re behaving badly is when they most need an arm round their shoulders. It isn’t clear that O’Connor has ever had the right sort of guidance.
Brian Smith thought that given the opportunity, O’Connor would play 100 Tests for the Wallabies. Let’s hope that sometime, somewhere in the future, he fights for that chance. His talent, at least, is once-in-a-generation.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
JOC isn't really a complete footballer... his passing and kicking game are no where near where they need to be for him to be a 10, which is why I found the comparison with Beale and Cooper odd. Both have significantly superior passing and kicking games to JOC. On raw talent, I think Folau edges JOC too - Folau's stats for defenders beaten is pretty incredible and he's the best under the high ball in the world.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Except he spent his formative years around supposed great leaders in Sharpe, Hodgson and Pocock...
dho
Guest
Exactly... Who is to say he hasn't been told by a Dr his time is nearly up. He would not want to announce that for fears of reduced contracts. He has form for being a twit but on recent behavior doesn't need to be demonised.
dho
Guest
"A tragic waster of talent" sounds more like RG than JOC to me.
rebel
Guest
Thanks for clearing up the Hopoate thing, as it did seem out of place before with such a good author.
SpeedyG
Guest
Not having an opinion on JOc one way or the other, is it possible to play with such an injury, how can you as a professional athelete not know something is wrong, imagine if he made the squad and in a crucial knockout game it all blows up.....to the detriment of the team
eddy
Guest
Yeah what were people thinking? All that popped into my mind when I read the bum poker reference was that brilliant headline, "Crouching Tiger Hidden Finger".
eddy
Guest
That's right IKE, if Deans and the ARU had managed him and others well we wouldn't be in this predicament. That's why I lay the blame with the adults in the room. If only they'd acted their age.
Lancaster Bomber
Guest
The first couple of years I saw JOC play my thoughts were, here's a guy who can do just about anything and he would be world class in nearly any sport. With pace, balance, vision and ticker way beyond his stature, and yes a great step, he appeared to be that once in a generation player. Unfortunately as we all know, his off field antics and other issues have meant we haven't seen much of him and certainty not at his best for a while. Memories can be short and some won't forgive him, but for me he was pushing towards that "once in a generation" status. But I always value speed - straight line and acceleration while changing direction - along with good vision as the excitement part of any football code.
Roy
Guest
I agree for details look at the All Blacks...few get rushed there for good reason.
Roy
Guest
He had some speed at 20 yrs old...Now plagued by long term ankle and now knee problems his step and speed is diminished...I think he peaked around 22... He has been in gradual decline for a few years...however the media and so called experts hate to admit they could have been over zealous about his abilities and keep bagging on about him. Knowing his personality I think though the biggest problem was he and his management thought he was better than he was and thus he refused to work on his weakenesses, (kicking consistency and defence.) In my opinion he never went on from 22 years old , as the really good players do, continually reinventing themselves with new skills. Hopefully he will get fit and work hard at his game.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
You sound like an interesting person Machooka .. except you barrack for the Waratahs and the Wallabies and I am a long suffering Blues fan and of course am a religious follower of the men in black. That's not to say that I do not support Aussie, I do, I do ... (except against the All Blacks - sorry but they are my roots), I attend most test matches in Aussie, at least on the East Coast (except for this year due to health issues) and have my Gold jersey and scarf hanging in the wardrobe. Regardless of that...... if the occasion presents itself, I'd love to split a drink with you and share a few yarns, happy to grab a ticket on the silver bird and spend a night there ... I am going to take RobC's family out to dinner in KL when I am next there (hopefully within the next 3-4 weeks) and I'll carry with me a bottle or two of decent bottles of Red so that Rob will have a reminder of the taste of home. Next year a mate and I (same age and was my best man 44 years ago) are looking to go to SA ... never been there but on my bucket list. For sure I'll try to have a session with Harry Jones and Biltongbek, I reckon that would be a hoot. ... Of course our visit will happen to coincide with the AB's game there!!
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
I wonder if things may have been diffrrent if he had a no nonsense captain to look up to. Guys like Martin Johnson, Richie or Meads may have been a stronger influence. I don"t see anyone arround Australian rigby like that (Cheika maybe?). I see plenty of ego strokers though.
Harry Jones
Expert
I agree on all counts, Andrew. Well-written, too. I hope we see JOC again soon, in a Wallaby jersey.
Sprinter
Guest
That's a brilliant article. Actually quite moving trying to imagine what it would be like to be James O'Connor. We write him off as fans of the game because of all the stupid things he did and said (remember the 'brand' comment anyone?) but forget that he is just a kid doing the same stupid things we all did in our early twenties. He was thrown talent, money and fame at an early age and handled it very badly. Could any of us be absolutely sure we would have done any better? Honestly his raw talent was sublime. It's so disappointing for Australian rugby that we just didn't have the right people managers for him at the right time to get the best out of him. I'm not trying to claim that he doesn't need to take responsibility for his own actions - far from it - but I must say I would have loved to have seen him at his best in the Wallabies with a truly great coach. Perhaps he'll be back in 4 years older wiser and a better player and person. I still believe he could be a great player at 28 or 29.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Tragic... as your comment resonates with me as well. When a young James first came onto the scene I was somewhat in awe of his precocious talent. And I use that description decidedly. At that stage he appeared mature, as a player, beyond his years. He was a player that demanded your attention but... as time went by little cracks started to appear around the off-field persona. It was then I thought bugger this ain't gonna be what I, and others like yourself, were obviously hoping for. Such is life. Unfortunately, I had had the displeasure of seeing this same scenario when I worked in the blossoming Aussie music industry of the late 70s, and into the early 80s. Precocious talent terminated due to poor mentoring... least exploitation. Sadly I see the same parallels with JOC. Therefore, I don't think it's entirely his fault but it's his life. It's his responsiblity at day's end. Thus I wish him only the best... and like geez he's still pretty young. Especially when compared to two old buggers like us :) Hey as an aside, I caught-up with Muzzo, in Sydney the other night, for our first face to face. It was excellent. And you and he are from the same year. While I'm much younger and still very handsome :))
tvwatcherIntheweehours
Guest
Totally agree. The speed and endurance. Lack of mental maturity... but still so young now!! Let's hope he will come back "Giteaufied" from Toulon.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Not sure if you've seen his response to Marto... https://www.facebook.com/jamesoconnor832/posts/1152781221417859
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yep David, I was turned off by his "greater than thou' behaviour but I missed watching him play...He reminded me a lot of Grant Batty, perhaps not as fiesty but smaller than most he played against but never took a backwards step.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Machooka, JOC was (note past tense) 'my favourite' Wallaby back... I loved watching him play, he has talents that many of those in the current squad do not possess He lost favourtism with me when he did not front up in Sydney for the squad announcement for the 2011 RWC. Many suggested, no big deal, he just slept in, he had a big night celebrating or he had a better offer to stay in the cot with some lucky sheila, or whatever ... He was selected, 'that was that' ... he thought, being presented to the people of Australia to go represent them was no big deal, certainly not worth setting an alarm for?? But then, I am from the older school, times have changes why would I like players who respect their jersey, why would I or should I lose respect for those who do not honour their word and fulfil the contracts they signed under no duress. I must be missing it somewhere, being disciplined is boring, why should players today take heed of notice from their superiors who happen to pay the handsomely...Somewhere in my 71 years I missed it.