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James O’Connor was considered surplus goods under Dave Rennie; a line had been put through his name so much so that he wasn’t even included in a 44-man training camp in January.
Now, the once-golden boy of Australian rugby is back on the field and looking sharper than he has for years.
O’Connor’s influence at the Reds has been striking since his return to Super Rugby in 2020.
That comment has been showcased over the past fortnight, where he has immediately stamped his authority over matches and made the Reds look like a top six Super Rugby team.
James O’Connor’s strong return has given Eddie Jones another selection consideration. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Unlike his hurried return off the bench against England in Brisbane last year, he has been laser accurate with his skills coming off the bench and brought a sense of calmness, maturity and game-smarts with him.
Perhaps most importantly, others have lifted around him on the field. Good players manage to make others look better around them.
It’s an aspect that would not have gone unmissed by Eddie Jones, particularly if other Reds players like Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia are to feature prominently.
Brad Thorn was right to give Tom Lynagh the starting jersey against the Brumbies. Australian rugby needs to nurture the development of its young playmakers and that doesn’t mean always dropping them at the first chance.
It’s always harder to bring on inexperience when games are in the balance. That’s why a generation of young 10s stalled in their development – because they weren’t backed to close out matches given so-called big-name players were wearing the No.10 jerseys.
Even if Lynagh doesn’t start next week against the Drua, the 19-year-old should still be trusted with game-time off the bench. That could mean O’Connor shifts to the midfield or fullback, which wouldn’t do the 32-year-old’s Wallabies hopes any harm.
Meanwhile, Noah Lolesio had a solid return to the No.10 jersey. The 23-year-old showed he remains a talent. While his late try was cancelled due to an apparent earlier knock-on when James Doleman’s earpiece went dead, his decision-making was spot on and his desire to run the ball – he also made a linebreak minutes earlier – was pleasing to see.
Carter Gordon, too, had his moments and continues to grow. Another 80 minutes and a win will do his confidence the world of good.
MAN AT HEART OF REBELS’ RESURGENCE
There were several players who played their part in the Rebels’ win over the Waratahs, but no-one did more than Richard Hardwick.
The back-rower has been an established Super Rugby player for years.
After all, the 28-year-old played two Tests off the bench for the Wallabies in 2017 under Michael Cheika. He has since defected to Namibia and will likely feature prominently later in the year in France.
But consistency – and perhaps the fact the back-rower has played in Australia’s two worst-performing franchises – has been Hardwick’s issue.
Yet, over the opening three rounds of this year’s comp, he has been one of Australia’s best. Certainly, the Rebels’ best.
Former Wallaby Richard Hardwick is in career best form for the Rebels. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
His decision-making on when to attack the breakdown has been spot on while he’s packing a punch in the carry, too.
He is also proving a strong partner to Brad Wilkin, the workhorse Rebels acting-captain and openside flanker, who is often making the first-up tackle and allowing Hardwick to attack the ball.
In fact, there’s a bit of David Pocock and Michael Hooper 2015 about Wilkin and Hardwick at present. Their dual impact stifled the Waratahs’ attack on Friday and was at the heart of disrupting their attacking breakdown and, consequently, quick, clean ball.
DECISION-TIME FOR TAHS
There were no post-game blow-ups, but the dejected look the Waratahs showed in their change-room at AAMI Park summed up a hugely underwhelming opening three weeks.
While the Brumbies are a competition contender, the Waratahs were slow out of the blocks in Sydney and threw away a golden chance against the Rebels.
That’s not to devalue the Rebels’ win. Kevin Foote’s team showed great resilience and finishing ability to run out to a big lead, lose momentum and then take it again and run with it.
But the Waratahs blew two tries in the opening 20 minutes and had they taken their early chances, it’s improbable that the Rebels would have been in the contest at half-time.
Now Darren Coleman’s side face a season-defining six weeks, which includes four supremely tough tests against four of the five best sides in the competition, including the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Brumbies and Blues – three of which are on the road.
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman has some big selection decisions ahead of him. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Firstly, the Waratahs have to clean up their attacking breakdown, which is slow and leaving space for oppositions to pounce on just like the Wallabies for years.
Coleman will also have to get his selection right.
Nemani Nadolo was exposed twice out wide after coming in for Max Jorgensen (shoulder).
Rotation polices rarely work and Tolu Latu has to regularly feature and not just from the bench, particularly with Angus Bell out injured.
Michael Hooper hasn’t yet had the same match-changing impact, particularly in defence. Charlie Gamble could start next week against the Hurricanes, giving Hooper the chance to bring his experience and running game off the bench against tiring defences.
While the backline configuration remains a big talking point too, with Will Harrison back fit, Mosese Tuipulotu demanding a chance at outside centre, Jorgensen likely to return and Dylan Pietsch not far away either.
DRUA’S WIN A WARNING FOR OPPOSITION SIDES – AND WHY SANZAAR OFFICIALS SHOULD STOP WATCHING AND START PLANNING
Scenes of Fijians celebrating wildly following their stunning win over the Crusaders is the best thing to happen to Super Rugby in years.
Not only is the competition now giving Fijians the chance to show themselves to the world, it has also breathed new life into the game in the Southern Hemisphere.
Now, the suits running the game should be doing everything they can to speed up the process of Fiji’s integration into The Rugby Championship. Nor should it deny them from competing in their usual Pacific Nations Cup either.
Good luck to any foreign side playing in Fiji.
Fijian Drua celebrate after defeating the Crusaders in Lautoka, Fiji. Photo: Pita Simpson/Getty Images
As for the here and now, the Crusaders paid the price for resting a couple of their star players.
Will other teams think twice before using the match in Fiji as an opportunity to follow their national union’s request by resting Test players ahead of the World Cup? Absolutely.
Will it stop them? Perhaps not. While the Drua have certainly shown they deserve respect, the fact the match is physically sapping in the heat and humidity, and it’s not a short flight either, means franchises might decide it’s worth the gamble regardless.
OFFICIATING NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP
On the whole, more fatigue has entered the game because of the urgency around packing scrums and preparing lineouts, but the breakdown remains a mess.
A week after the Hurricanes got away with murder against the Rebels, the breakdown was a shambles between the Reds and Brumbies in Canberra.
Laurie Fisher bangs the drum about needing to get on the ball, not past it, and making an active attempt to win it back by pulling up.
Unfortunately, hands past the ball are sweeping into the game and the Hurricanes are the No.1 culprits. But all franchises should be warned to cut it out or penalised accordingly.
In Canberra, Suliasi Vunivalu not only lost his feet at the breakdown, he played the ball on the ground but got away with murder. He wasn’t the only one either.
Meanwhile, the TMO upgrading system with red cards seems to be working well currently (there hasn’t been a big controversy with a headline player yet).
But the Force got away with one on Saturday night as Jeremy Thrush escaped a TMO intervention despite a high shot. Rubbing salt into the wound, Thrush showed all of his experience and game-smarts by playing on quickly moments later and running into a Moana Pasifika player in an offside position on the tryline which resulted in a yellow card.
Team of the week:
Matt Gibbon, Lachlan Lonergan, Cabous Eloff, Nick Frost, Trevor Hosea, Tim Anstee, Fraser McReight, Richard Hardwick, Ryan Louwrens, James O’Connor, Filipo Daugunu, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Chase Tiatia
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.