Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn hopes flyhalf James O’Connor will be remembered as a great Wallaby by the time his playing career comes to an end.
O’Connor produced a standout display in the Reds’ 57-5 bonus-point victory over the Western Force on Friday night, having a hand in the first three tries and also scoring one himself.
He also became the first player in Super Rugby history to score more than 100 points for three different franchises.
The eight-tries-to-one romp lifted Queensland to top spot on the Super Rugby AU table, with O’Connor’s hot form turning the Reds into a genuine title threat.
O’Connor was in the Wallabies wilderness for almost six years due to a series of off-field incidents before making a successful return last year.
On his current form, O’Connor is a strong chance to be handed the ten jersey when the Wallabies are back in action later this year.
Thorn has been thrilled with the way O’Connor has bonded with the Reds team and he hopes there are many more fruitful years ahead for the 30-year-old at both domestic and international level.
(Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP via Getty Images)
“I played him when he was a 17-year-old over in Christchurch. I was impressed with him that day,” Thorn said.
“(He was) a highly talented guy with the world at his feet, but you saw the challenges he had around choices he was making.
“To get that opportunity back here, he’s made every post a winner.
“Just that narrative for me, in five years time or something, I’d like to think those earlier days aren’t talked about as much.
“Hopefully he’s talked about as a very good Wallaby or a great Wallaby and a great servant for Queensland rugby. I’m pleased how he’s going along.”
Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott announced himself as a potential Wallabies bolter with a scintillating display against the Force.
McDermott scored two tries, with the second being a mesmerising 40-metre dash for the line while weaving in between Force defenders.
The Reds have a bye next week before taking on the Brumbies in a final-round clash that could decide top spot.
The Force’s sixth defeat on the trot left them stranded on the bottom of the table ahead of next week’s match against the Brumbies.
“I think being away from home for so long is starting to take its toll,” Force coach Tim Sampson said.
“We’re not in our home nest at home. We don’t get to play at home, we don’t train at our facility, we’re not around our loved ones.
“That’s not using it as an excuse for tonight’s performance, but I think it’s human.”
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
I'd essentially agree concerning Kuridrani, but he would pull out a good one now and again. But for injuries, Petaia would have been Cheika's first choice last year but it didn't work out.
Double Agent
Guest
Terribly sad. Lost in Europe getting paid big bucks to play rugby. It must've been awful!!
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Live stream! Tell your mates - I need the coin.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Hooper, JOC and Toomua don’t play well against the top sides? Okay then......
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Petaia might make your team? He is the first bloke picked. There is a 0% chance that a fit Petaia will not start every test in 2020. He’s world class.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Slipper was absolutely destroyed by Tupou. He has struggled against other THPs recently. I’m a huge fan of his, but he’s not in form. If he gets picked, it’s purely on experience. Unless he turns things around quickly, the Wobs scrum will get demolished on his side. Maybe this issue isn’t him - I don’t believe Fainga’a is a particularly strong scrummager - perhaps with Uelese, who is an axe, Slipper will be 100%. In that case, I’ll be happy as a pig in mud. Other than Sio, there is no one demanding selection on the left side.
Toehill
Roar Rookie
Cheers. Yeah I have no issue with holding off on McReight as long as Hooper’s performing. Samu better get picked, he’s got such a good skill set for a back row super sub with his speed and ability to cover all three positions. Agree, Harrison and Lolohia are no where near this team at the moment. Have been impressed with both of them though.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Slipper's form was excellent pre-COVID. Slipper and Sio are our best LHs. One starts. Slipper's scrummaging is a bit more reliable.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Slipper is in awful form.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Hooper is fantastic. But he’s not a certainty for best 7 in Australia. He’s not close to the World XV. Not top 5
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
100% agree. We need depth everywhere - forwards too
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Depth was developed. Just never the best performing or players with the most potential. So rather than the next tier of players below our best, we basically improved a bunch of players who are decent, but rarely likely to be test starters. Tom Robertson and Ned Hanigan are two perfect examples of this. Their Wallaby time helped them become better Super Rugby players. But even with this head start on other more talented options in their position at the time, they are just good Super Rugby players who we would look at in the case of Wallaby injuries, not players likely to fall in our best 30.
jeznez
Roar Guru
We need 9, 10 and 12. Some would argue 13 as well. If we look at McDermott, Lolesio, Harrison, Simone, Petaia and Paisami as the leading young candidates then to me it makes sense that JP will be around the squad and that Tate and Irae look more ready than Will, Noah and Hunter. Get experience into 9, 12 and 13 while taking advantage of the experience from White, JOC, To’omua and Kuridrani. The guys that get blooded will help Lolesio, Harrison and Paisami when it comes time to blood them. Assuming their performances reach the required level. None of those three a ready yet even if it did make sense to send out a completely novice back line.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
It would have been nice to see what they could have done with a games in Perth. They do tend to get big crowds and some of the earlier games that were a little closer could have been different with a big crowd to give them an extra push
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I would usually agree. However we are coming off the age of Cheika where depth was not developed. The number one priority is going to be putting the best team on the field to win games but also building depth across the park. 9 and 10 are going to be top priorities in the building of depth. MT and JOC are not spring chickens and somehow nick white is our most experienced option at 9.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I’m a reds fan and blind to everything that is not in Maroon... but the best player in Australia is Hooper.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Tupou to play the full 80 mate.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
What???? Where is Ned “went missing yet again” Hannigan???
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Put down you bag of white powder. Hunt is a quality footballer but does not have the all round game of either JOC or MT
jeznez
Roar Guru
I don’t think either is anywhere near ready. Get experience into McDermott and Simone while playing JOC and To’omua. Then in the next season or two a young 10 can come in and the 9 and 12 aren’t newbies as well.