Wallabies latest – O’Connor to miss decider
22 Aug 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from the Wallabies’ camp.
O’Connor to miss decider – James O’Connor has copped a one-match suspension after failing to arrive for the Wallabies team photo and World Cup squad announcement.
O’Connor was given a suspended A$10,000 ($10,400) fine which will stay in place until the end of 2012 and suspended from this Saturday’s Tri-Nations title decider against the All Blacks. The Wallabies’ utility back was found guilty of breach in conduct on Monday.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, O’Connor told officials on Sunday that he overslept when the alarm on his mobile phone failed to go off, but it’s uncertain whether he was at the team hotel at the time. He was sighted the night before at a different hotel and at several bars.
The Wallabies will name their team for the Test against the All Blacks on Tuesday. Adam Ashley-Cooper is expected to take O’Connor’s place on the wing.
36 Comments
22 Aug 2011, 07:31 am
Good Dragon this guy!
22 Aug 2011, 07:31 am
Meaning on the field!
22 Aug 2011, 07:36 am
They’d be better suspending him from the opening World Cup game v Italy than a Tri Nations decider.
22 Aug 2011, 07:45 am
He was too busy working the streets the previous night.
22 Aug 2011, 07:45 am
Out drinking with Beale till the wee hrs… to hungover to bother attending (Beale just made it)… methinks Beale, J’Oc and Cipriani are going to find themselves very tempted here with the Melbourne night-life!
22 Aug 2011, 07:49 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-5:
Yeah, he needed beer money because Australian rugby players get very little. So he was too exhausted to wake the following morning due to the fact that he was working the streets the previous night.
22 Aug 2011, 08:05 am
sure he went on the pisss but dropping him for such a big game, really? jeez big risk
22 Aug 2011, 08:22 am
Does this mean he is out of the World Cup?? :LOL:
All Blacks to clinch the tri-nations on Saturday.
22 Aug 2011, 08:22 am
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-7:
Not pitching up for the official RWC squad photo and media release simply as he was too hung-over… that’s a huge no-no!
I don’t think they’ll drop him as they could still win the 3N… and most the ‘reserves’ and players coming back from injury are playing for the Aus Barbarians against Canada on Friday night…
22 Aug 2011, 08:23 am
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-7: They have to make an example of him.
22 Aug 2011, 08:25 am
i reckon o’connor is the best rugby backline player in the world at the moment…
but if he’s not gonna respect the game, his team mates, his coaching staff and his national supporters then he needs to be taught a lesson…
22 Aug 2011, 08:27 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-9:
Bad omen for the Aussies if their key players had attitudes like this.
Immaturity and arrogance might just end up been the downfall of the Aussies this WC.
22 Aug 2011, 08:28 am
had = have and been = being sorry early morning here
22 Aug 2011, 08:31 am
silly kid….
22 Aug 2011, 08:49 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-9:
yes sure, but the article says he has been dropped for the weekends game.
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-10:
absolutely, but wouldn’t you rather make an example of someone in a way that works for you, more importantly? dropping him could break the game for them.
22 Aug 2011, 09:00 am
Robbie Deans don’t take isshhhh!
22 Aug 2011, 09:08 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-4:
Did Oconnor bump into your Mom on the streets?
22 Aug 2011, 09:14 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-17:
No, but you were one of his customers. Convict.
22 Aug 2011, 09:16 am
On the p iss the night before by all accounts………….need to deflate the head a wee bit methinks!
22 Aug 2011, 09:18 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-17:
22 Aug 2011, 09:50 am
Well I think the Aussies were not really backing themselves to win this weekend against a full strength NZ team. Still does makes the all blacks job a little easier this Saturday night.
22 Aug 2011, 09:54 am
I’m not sure if a decision has actually been made on this yet. The result will most likely be a suspension and fine.
22 Aug 2011, 09:55 am
When young James was deciding what Super 15 Franchise he would sign with next year a few weeks back (ie, probably who would bid the most $$’s) he was on TV prattling on about “Brand O’Connor”.
The Kid’s got a bit to learn about brand value, and maintaining and enhancing it.
There also seems to be a growing feeling amongst his team mates against him – Beale, Cooper & JOC are probably getting too much attention.
I think he needs to let the air out of his head a bit….
22 Aug 2011, 10:46 am
News just in that O’Connor, Beale and Cooper were involved in a fight in France last year and that the ARU is investigating. They might all miss the RWC-that would be the end of Australia’s challenge
22 Aug 2011, 10:50 am
@astanga(astanga)-24: it was a FOOD fight.
22 Aug 2011, 10:51 am
@corms(corms)-22: O’Connor suspended
22 August 2011 8.22 p.m.
Wallabies utility James O’Connor has been axed from Saturday’s Tri Nations decided against the All Blacks and handed a $10,000 suspended fine for his no-show at Thursday’s World Cup squad announcement.
The 21-year-old, who was allegedly spotted at two popular Sydney bars on Wednesday night, failed to report for an official team photo at the team’s Coogee hotel the following morning and also missed the official ceremony at Sydney airport.
O’Connor issued a private apology to his team-mates on Sunday before fronting the media to express his remorse.
But his contrition was not enough to avoid missing out on the biggest match of his 30-Test career, with the Wallabies to claim their first Tri Nations title since 2001 should they defeat the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium.
He has officially been suspended until August 28, meaning he will be available for selection the Wallabies’ World Cup opener against Italy on September 11.
His $10,000 suspended fine will remain in place until December 31, 2012.
The ARU said in a statement: “The 21-year-old was asked to provide ARU with an explanation as to his non-attendance last Thursday. A response was received earlier today and considered, after which a decision was taken to suspend and fine O’Connor for his indiscretion.”
O’Connor’s absence is a major blow for the Wallabies given the in-from right winger is also the side’s first-choice goal kicker.
Quade Cooper is likely to assume the kicking duties, while it is unclear how Deans will reshuffle his backline.
Adam Ashley Cooper could shift from outside centre to the right wing, giving Waratahs centre Rob Horne a chance in the No.13 jersey.
Another possible option is to shift inside-centre Pat McCabe and Ashley-Cooper one position wider and elevate Reds inside-centre Anthony Faingaa to the starting side.
22 Aug 2011, 10:52 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-16: remember kade poki @ the saders in 2008?
22 Aug 2011, 10:58 am
Well for the ARU to be considering action against the players (according to Channel 9 news) they must have been throwing dangerous food at one another
22 Aug 2011, 11:19 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-18:
Not cool to call your mum a guy…tranny by any chance??
22 Aug 2011, 11:21 am
@astanga(astanga)-24:
You guys putting to episodes into one. Both episodes have been now dealt with as two separate incidents.
22 Aug 2011, 11:40 am
Reports are that O’Connor, Beale and Cooper were out drinking on the Wednesday before the French test (where they smashed the Frenchies) and were in a scuffle, with the police getting involved.
It was apparently sorted out by Elsom, and senior players who implemented some kind of punishment, and didn’t let officials get involved. The story also suggests that they were on a drinking curfew after having had too much in the lead up to the Hong Kong test.
O’Connor needs to be careful – no-one likes a trouble maker, especially someone who comes across as very arrogant. He can go from boy wonder, to problem child very quickly, especially if he losses form on the field.
22 Aug 2011, 12:04 pm
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-31: dankie
22 Aug 2011, 15:14 pm
a bit more than a food fight-from news24.co.za
Wallaby stars in drunken brawl
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2011/Wallaby-stars-in-drunken-brawl-20110822
22 Aug 2011, 15:41 pm
Not unexpected. Very typical from this group of Wallabies.
22 Aug 2011, 15:44 pm
Deans should read Anton Oliver’s biography. He writes about how whatever you want to say about the current ABs coaches, Henry & Smith made it clear there was a new sheriff in town and this kind of behavior would not be tolerated. Time for Deans to get tough.
22 Aug 2011, 22:26 pm
Dean’s decision is consistent with past actions – eg dropping tuquiri.
I think this will dent the Wallabies chances of beating the AB’s on Saturday. Against both the AB’s and the Boks they are heavily reliant on attacks from broken play, particularly QC releasing Beale and O’Connor from turnover ball. Without O’Connor, the AB’s will be able to mark Beale more closely and this will in turn wind up the pressure on Genia and QC. While the Wallabies will be competitive across the park, I think they will struggle to break down the AB defences, whereas the AB’s have the firepower to break the Aus defence and to score points throughout the game.
I.e. I don’t think the Aussies will be able to win through a defensive game alone, I think they will need to limit the AB scoring AND score plenty of points themselves. Without O’Connor, their strike power to score points has been significantly reduced (IMHO).
Obviously this means nothing for the World Cup, as O’Connor will be back then. However, as an AB supporter I want to win the Tri Nations and notch up yet another win against the Aussies furthering our dominance over them that began in 2004. Bring it on!!!
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.