James O'Connor reveals his next destination

I don't think you can say O'Connor lacks professionalism or commitment. He is always in peak condition as a player. He might be a flog and probably a mercenary, but he's one that ensure's he is always able to perform to the highest standard.

Saying Mowen's was a case of chasing the money is very unfair. His captaincy was a case of last man standing, he knew he would be back out of the squad as soon as a couple of injured players returned. If a natural talent like O'Connor could show even half of the level of commitment and professionalism that Mowen did...

Its not the actual physicality of what happened. It was his complete lack of respect for Adam Thomson and for the jersey, which show no signs of changing. There was no bones about why he came back to the Reds that year - he saw it as a way to try and get back a Wallabies jersey, but he wasn't good enough and his attitude and approach to the game showed as much. I don't know why there is continued fascination with the bloke. He's talented, but he's hardly rugby's second coming.

Still bashing Deans. Deans still has a better winning ratio than most. Australia needs a kiwi coach to drag them out of this slump.

Oh c'mon teammates have had worst fist cuffs than that. There was an inter trial game Deans did at GPS School rvierview in 2012 was way more rough and fisty cuff. Chieka has had some hard training sessions where blood has been spilt between teamates.

Yep, only Phillips was first choice and even he had a pretty poor season overall. Tuitupou (behind Jennings, James, Addison and Leota) and Lund (with the emergence of the Curry brothers) were well down the pecking order by the end of the season. The only other name people might recognise is Mujati and he was allowed to go to the Ospreys mid-season as Aulika and Longbottom were ahead of him. Usually, Sale lose their talented young English players but they've managed to tie them up to long-term deals.

Seriously couldn't give a flying you know what.

It is a loss for Oz rugby. Regardless of off field misdemeanours O'Connor was brave and skillful player. Most of the flack he took was way over the top. And Ben Mowen was pushed. The Salary offer was way less than his position warranted. He set standards that some Tahs did not like.

Really?? SALE SHARKS Arrivals: Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Will Cliff (Bristol), Marc Jones (Bristol), Alexandru Tarus (Beziers), Jono Ross (Stade Français), WillGriff John (Doncaster Knights), Faf de Klerk (Lions), James O’Connor (Toulon) Departures: Mike Phillips (retired), Sam Tuitupou (Coventry), Sam Bedlow (Bristol Rugby), Matt Rogerson (Jersey Reds), Brian Mujati (Ospreys), Neil Briggs (retired), James Mitchell (Connacht), Andrew Hughes (released), Charlie Ingall (released), Tim Jeffers (released), Magnus Lund (released), Jonathan Mills (released), Tom Morton (released), Dan Mugford (released), Peter Stringer (released)

O'Connor has proven his unreliability in Australia - both on and off the field and the Australian rugby is better without his disruptive influence and attitudes. The incident in May 2015 between him and Adam Thomson in the Qld sheds at half time showed his true rugby character, let alone the other incidents and issues that have blighted his career. I don't begrudge the bloke for going overseas when Australia didn't work out for him, and he's talented, but I don't think he's worth it for what he brings to a Wallabies jersey.

Ben Mowen was a different case. He'd put in a hard slog to get there and hadn't been very well rewarded. Nearing retirement he chose to take the one good offer he had his entire career.

Anybody capable of balanced consideration knew he would easily be picked up.

For all of those players, just reading the comments made about them on here would make the decision pretty easy I think. Everyone is entitled to choose their career path and maximise their income. Good luck to him. He has been playing quite well and is a very skilled player, no doubt about that.

I can't believe Roar editors let this headline opportunity slip thru: O'CONNOR FOR SALE Seriously tho good luck to him.

I don't think he's given up, if he wanted it badly he'd come back and committed. Now he's matured a bit more he's 27, I think he likes the cash more than the wallaby jersey(and there's nothing wrong with that, look at Ben Mowen an incumbent wallaby captain who chose money over being wallaby captain, or Will Genia going to France for a few years or Adam Ashley cooper , barrack barnes and plenty more). If these guys loved super rugby more and helping the young guys develop they would stay in OZ but know it's a pro game and gotta look after no 1 themselves is there attitude and there's nothing wrong with that. So JOC had the ability to be part of the 2019 world cup, and chieka if your switched on will give you a 2nd or even 3rd chance, but he's now 27 and more mature realize he may only have 5-8 years left in the game and wants money more than playing in a world cup that he's reasoned the wallabies won't win, and clearly super rugby glory in a plastic manufactured comp that it is, he loves his bank balance more and travelling around Europe to some wonderful places when playing, than playing in from of 12,000 people on a lonely friday night at Allianz stadium. Doesn't a Tah jersey playing the southern Kingz or the Sunwolves in front of 12,000 people at Allianz excite you JOC? My answer is no, and he took the money and lifestyle of Europe over a failed wallaby world cup campaign in 2019 and a plastic meaningless comp like super rugby.

Yes, I knew he'd be in with a sniff at Sale ;-)....'Bad Boy' Cipriani is one of Steve Diamond's turnaround success stories of the recent past - maybe JOC will follow?

Not necessarily. Most of those were youngsters or players on the fringes of the first team. Sale actually look like they will have a decent team on paper next season but their front-row has been an issue for them for a while.

He has. He's gone to Sale. Following the footsteps of D Cipriani. England gave the Rebels Danny. Australia give Sale O'Connor. Call it quits?

Something happened to him after a leg injury in Melbourne and he lost that extra zip which reduced the like since of Giteau and Cooper from great players to good players (in Giteau's case he was horrible at times before he left for Toulon). I really thought O'Connor was the best and most talented player of his generation - if he had Tim Horan's passion to succeed at the highest level he could have compensated for this in other ways. Unfortunately for him and for fans he is a cancerous flake who was poorly managed in his prime by none other than Robbie 'Dingo' Deans.

Exactly what I thought when I read the article