Feeling he has plenty more to offer, James O’Connor doesn’t want to hand over the Wallabies No.10 jersey with the Bledisloe Cup riding on Saturday’s result in Sydney.
After a draw and a loss in New Zealand, the Wallabies must win game three to take the series to a deciding Test in Brisbane next month.
O’Connor could move to inside centre for the ANZ Stadium match against the All Blacks to cover the injury loss of Matt Toomua, giving exciting young playmaker Noah Lolesio his Test debut.
But having finally regained the Wallabies five-eighth role, which he last held in 2013, O’Connor wants to stay there.
“I’ve spent a lot of time at 12 but at the moment I’m enjoying playing 10,” O’Connor said on Monday.
“It’s been a natural progression as I’ve matured, using my mind more and less my body and I guess playing for the team more and less as an individual.”
He said that when he last played at No.10, against the British and Irish Lions, he didn’t have the understanding he does now of how to control a game.
O’Connor played at outside centre in last year’s disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign and said he felt “frustrated”.
“I couldn’t give my all and I felt like I wasn’t involved as much as I would have liked, so I went back to the drawing board with one of my coaches about how I could take my game forward and it was about stepping up at 10,” he said.
“I’m comfortable there now and I feel like I can bring my own element and it’s my best position.”
The Wallabies missed more than 40 tackles in the Eden Park loss to the All Blacks, which O’Connor felt was unacceptable while their poor ball control piled on the pressure.
“You’re never going to win a Test match when you miss that many tackles,” he said.
“We created a lot of opportunities in attack but we threw the ball away a lot.
“We know what the standards are and they dropped from the first week but we know what we’re capable of.”
Halfback Nic White admitted the Wallabies’ confidence had been dentedby the 20-point defeat, which came after a promising 16-16 draw in Wellington.
But he felt it was retrievable.
“In two games, three of the four halves we did really well,” White said.
“That fourth half, yeah we missed too many tackles and in the blink of an eye let in two tries.
“Your confidence will take a hit but it hasn’t taken a huge hit; we know that we can get back there.”
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
That's why I said "most of the time", Morsie. Yes, that kick was a shocker.
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Yeah I agree. He rolled the dice hoping that his 10 and 12 could both play 80, and lost.
soapit
Roar Guru
Would kinda prefer the cliche I'll play wherever they think I'm best used tbh
soapit
Roar Guru
I think Toomua going off without proper cover really changed the whole structure for the team on the run. I wouldn't be judging too many on anything that happened after he left. Fair error from Rennie to be fair
pm
Roar Rookie
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Tooly
Roar Rookie
Plenty more to offer ? I remember Stan Jurds dad Brian saying about another son and a mate of mine David late in his career. “ David reckons he has more to offer. It must be a long way down if it hasn’t surfaced yet “. Get Lolisio ! Play OC at 12 , Petaia at 13, Banks and White.
Jack
Guest
The Wallabies need stability. O'Connor should stay at 10. Simone at 12. Start AAA. McDermott, Lolesio, Valetini off the bench for spark. The challenge as always is the balance of the back 3. No world class 6. Not since Fardy left.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Would like to see oconnor stay at 10 and lolesio at 12 where he played in the under 20s. It will take the pressure off him a bit mentally than debuting in the 10 jersey. It will be a big step up for Noah where in super rugby he was play maker in the top team he will now be playing in a team (as a whole) that is not the top. He looks like he has the right stuff though. Need both him and joc in the team to have a back up goal kicker too
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Yeah, I don’t think it’s fair to heap too much criticism on the players based on Eden Park. The team played poorly overall. I think we just need to accept the team played poorly and, more or less, give the same guys another shot. Maybe tinker with the margins.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Purdo, there is NO doubt all 3 could have been "managed" so much better.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Fair point.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
The "speaking to the press" bit is a requirement of managing modern pro footy teams. Some press coverage between matches helps keep punters interest up. If the WB camp gave out nothing other than a team sheet the day before the match, they would get even less mainstream coverage than is already the case. Maybe it was the case that O'Connor just drew the short straw on who had to throw a bone to the rugby press. Being one of the "old hands" it might have been judged that he was better able to handle questions about selection pressures than some other players who are younger and/or more likely to be dropped.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
Bobby, I await with interest. It looks like it will take two matches at least to try out Lolesio and Simone. One way or another JOC seems destined to be overtaken by one or the other or both, which is no bad thing. You have to be mighty good to retain as spot into your 30s. It's a pity the 3 amigos were mismanaged and we didn't see what we hoped for from any of them. I think this was down to inept coaching and management, which might stem from the fact that the 3 amigos were very big fish in a small pond.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Before dumping too much on O'Connor, remember how the forwards went at the breakdown and how good Nic White's game at Eden Park was, or was not due to extra pressure from the AB's. Then add the fact that Gordon came on and threw pass after pass with zero deception so the AB's defence knew who to smash before they had caught the ball. O'Connor *wasn't* a different player at Eden Park than he was the week before. He certainly made some mistakes, but the rest of the team wasn't functioning as well so O'Connor was never going to have a good day. Does anyone have details on refs for Bled 3 & 4? If the rucks look like Bled 2, it won't matter who the WB 9 & 10 combo is; they will have sub-par games. *If* the WB's manage to even things up in the ruck, then the halves might play well enough to make the scoreline interesting.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Always have a chuckle when a player trys to shore up his position in a team by speaking to the press. Think he is looking over his shoulder at young Noah. James is serviceable at best in the 10 jumper. I reckon he'll be 10 this week with Simone at 12 and if Irae has a good game then the 12 fall back spot for JOC may disappear. Same with Noah at 10.
piru
Roar Rookie
And so he should, he's the best option at the moment.
Lara
Guest
No doubt O’Connor has matured as a player, but to me, he is a “bit” player....does a lot of things , but not brilliantly in anything . He is the sort of players that is great in club rugby...fill the holes. At the moment, the Wallabies need him to do just that.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
Hoy, I agree with you on a lot. JOC has to play, and I'll trust Dave Rennie as to where he'll play. There is a great opportunity to introduce either a new young 10, Lolesio, or a new young 12, Simone. I'd like to see either, but I'll trust the coach. He is the expert; I'm not. With regard to the 3 amigos, I don't think any of them was amenable to coaching in their early stages. The administrators were apparently unable to produce and empower coaches to act as teachers to the raw young players who needed guidance and some control.
Tallkev
Roar Rookie
I thought he was dreadful at Eden Park, which was a shame because he was pretty good the week before!
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
o'connor at 10 again?..yea, naaaah..