Ten years on from his Wallabies’ heroics in Hong Kong, James O’Connor is stepping up to kick match-winning goals again in a welcome and familiar sight for Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn.
Thorn was an All Black in 2010 when a fresh-faced O’Connor kicked the winner against him, the coach recalling the moment after he did similar in Friday’s 32-26 defeat of the NSW Waratahs.
Fullback Bryce Hegarty had made three of his six attempts for the night and with the game locked up, the Reds’ number ten seized the moment.
His two late emphatic penalties were the difference as the Reds snapped a seven-year, 11-game losing streak against their border rivals to launch Super Rugby AU.
“It went down to the wire there and James stepped up, a nice cool head,” Thorn said.
“I think James stepped up and said ‘I want to take it’.
“It was a bit of a frustrating game at times, trying to get the flow of the game, but he just said ‘enough’s enough’.
“(It reminded me of) standing there in Hong Kong in 2010 and a young kid stepped up… I remember thinking ‘if the kid kicks it, good on him’.”
O’Connor, the oldest player of a young Reds outfit on Friday, will turn 30 on Sunday.
He managed a groin complaint earlier this year that stopped him from kicking, but has returned from the shutdown fully fit and confident after sessions with renowned kicking coach Dave Alred.
“I think this break’s been good for him for his condition and for a lot of the lads,” Thorn said.
Both teams enjoyed the mid-week banter and the competition nature of the derby but Thorn wasn’t entirely pleased, insinuating it was gamesmanship that led to prop Taniela Tupou’s second-half sin-binning.
Twice the forward ran through and knocked over the Waratahs kicker, first conceding a penalty down-field and then being yellow-carded for his troubles.
But neither were particularly late or high shots, Thorn believing Tupou’s only crime was stupidity.
“If they’re seriously injured and go down they should get a HIA,” he said.
“Because clearly they were fine… rugby’s a tough game, I’m not a huge fan of that sort of stuff.
“On my side as well, I don’t want my players going down with a dramatic fall.
“They should take it, get up and get on with the game.”
TC
Guest
I'm always surprised people think Toomua should be the Wallabies 10. Maybe at the RWC last year, because Foley had been hopeless for quite a while and Christian L probably wan't up for it. But that was more due to terrible squad selection than Toomua deserving it. JOC is a far superior footballer and in all his outings at 10 for The Reds this year I think he's showed that. Sure, they lost most by a tight margin, but it wasn't down to JOC - he was opening things up, others just couldn't finish or complete. IMO, Toomua is No 3 or 4 on the 10 pecking order. He just doesn't take to it as naturally as JOC or the kids.
Dyskolos
Roar Rookie
I think some of the kicks were attempts at 50-22s. The kicking team gets the lineout throw.
numpty
Roar Rookie
You are very grovelly this morning oop so I'll leave it to you but up and unders are a pretty common tactic in world rugby. Maybe they weren't executed well on Friday night, but that doesn't mean they were aimless. They gain territory, create contested possession, chance for regather, make opposition turn and chase and secure the ball under pressure. And in a game knowing there was a high penalty count, there's extra incentive to be at the other end of the park. Enjoy your sunday.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Kicking a bomb and hoping a fullback drops it isn’t much of a tactic to me. More a lack of one. A bomb isn’t a kick for territory either. It can be a good tactic if practiced and well executed, but when JOC and Harrison did it the rest of the team never seemed to have a clue what t I do.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Well it's not pointless if they were kicking for territory... May have been poorly executed in terms of placement or chase but they weren't booting it out of lack of ideas. Toomua effectively used the same tactic last night, making the Brumbies FB drop a couple of bombs.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Heaps of the kicking from JOC/Harrison/Maddocks was terrible kicking from vaguely near halfway. Pointless bombs that they virtually never got back and usually resulted in the other side having a good attacking opportunity. It’s one thing to kick effectively for territory. Quite another to just hand the ball away because you don’t know what to do with it.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Same thing in NZ. It's because so many penalties are being blown, it's better to play a territory based game rather than possession based. Look at rebels Brumbies game, rebels let in two tries from penalties in their own half. Better to play at the other end which they did in the second half.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Stewart was a standout in the squad at the start of the year such that he shoved Lucas to the bench. He is also a 10 who has shifted to 12. He can kick and pass, but I'll agree we haven't seen a heap of it. Look at Rhys bosleys article and highlight of Stewart.
Rugger
Guest
Agree that a fly half should be judged not only on his kicks and runs but how often he can put his fellow backs into space. O’Connor from my perspective is the same flyhalf we saw in the last British Lions series. I don’t think Issac Lucas was the answer as his kicking game in the early rounds was limited (lack of distance) which prevented his team from overcoming the Brumbies earlier in the year. Qld is still waiting on an answer at flyhalf. Hopefully the 18 year old recently drafted in can make huge strides or the team in a full comp (pre COVID) would likely struggle to secure a finals spot. My money is on Harrison at this point if he keeps improving.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
No he doesn’t.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Stewart has an excellent passing game and an acceptable kicking game, particularly when he kicks long. He plays very flat and his passes are accurate in both directions, it just isn't being used very much in the Red's attacking scheme at the moment. I would like to see him coming into first receiver from 12 more often to make the most of it.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Hazel I thought it was not so much lucky bounces, but poor coverage from Maddocks a couple of times
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I want to keep Hegarty in the 15. I think Stewart is contributing the least. Hegarty to 10, JOC to 12.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah thinking the same HN. I like Stewart’s defence, but I think Hegarty + JOC loses nothing in defence but adds options in attack. I think Hegarty is a decent 10, as good as CLL for eg.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Gotta say, though, Stewart's defence was a surprising highlight before the shutdown. I think the 10 JOC 12 Stewart combo has looked settled but the game plan hasn't done them any favours. I don't think Hegarty's decision making would improve matters over JOC's, although the big question would be whether it would give more opportunities to Paisami?
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I definitely got the impression the Reds were trying to take advantage of the new kicking rules, but by and large it seemed to come down to a lucky bounce when it worked. If JOC takes over the goal kicking role, surely Hegarty drops back to the bench? I think Rennie's 10 decision will also be based on whether anyone steps up at 12.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, gave the ball away way too easily. Some of it was a lack of options but there was one at the end that was just a lack of ideas. I think there was plenty of good as well as some bad, really wish Donaldson had the last 20 to show what he can do.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
What did you think about Harrison's performance last night? Thought he, JOC and Maddocks were all guilty of continual pointless kicking.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Sounds very possible, with Simone developing nicely it still sounds like he'd have more opportunity at Reds or Tahs for 12. At Reds if he is seen as a 10
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
well they need a goal kicker